CHRISTMAS RELIEF PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 303, 23 December 1933, Page 8

CHRISTMAS RELIEF PAY.

' e J The llinkter <■'' Kmploymeiit is'reported s jto hint' stilted in Parliament a few (lays agft i 1 j that he would be pleased to investigate any - case whore no l'hr:?ttihts pay was given to R| si registered relief worker. Mine is'not ah I 'isolated case, but will serve a* an example. s I reregistered at Auckland for relief work on e Xovdnrber 27, 1933, having 'beeil registered-' J once before some time ago. I rank as a single 5 man. and as there was no city work for single - men I accepted for camp, ailcl duly passed tile 3 medical inspection required. As there was ' no camp work available ami there will be none 5 until January 8, 1034, at lea.st, I was put on • what is called "sustenance pay,'' at the rate ■ of 0/9 per week. I was duly paid the first ! (i/9 (after 14 days' standing down) and had 5/ deducted from it for the November levy, so that week, ending December 14. 1033. I actually received 1/9 to keep me for the week. Unfortunately, I have no means, so had to live oil ' the charity of my friends. To-day (December 21, 1933) I was paid 0/9 only, and was informed that I was not eligible d>ol' the extra Christjinas pay. In consequence I will have to exist |on this sum meantime till January 11. 1934 ■ (three weeks), when the next pay is due. 1 jam a New Zealaiuler by birth and have reside 1 [in the Dominion for'over forty years, am 'capable and willing to work, yet with all t!:is talk of Chr;.-tin:ss bonuses. Prosperity Week funds tn ass : .»t the relief workers, ete-. this is th<? position of myself and many others for Christmas, 1933. You have my permission t' verify the facts stated and use same if you think fit to adjust what 1 am .-ore no Minister nor the Unemployment Board can justify. 1 don't think anyone registers for relief work unless they have to, therefore it is all the more necessary to see that genuine workers are not thrown on to charity when there are ample iiunds to keep them "off it, and mc-t especially when the Labour Department has no work available, as is the case at present. 01990.