SUSTENANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 8

SUSTENANCE.

SCHEME CRITICISED.

LOCAL BODIES CONCERNED.

EARLY CONFERENCE LIKELY.

Local bodies in Auckland are concerned over the announcement of the Unemployment Board's new policy for the payment of sustenance to all relief workers over 50 years of age, and there is every probability of a conference being held to determine what conceited line of action should be adopted. Official figures of the total number of men in Auckland likely to be affected by the scheme are not available, but it is unofficially estimated that about onefchird, or 1500 to 2000 men, will be eligib e for posting to the sustenance list. The manner in which the board projected its policy was the subject of warm criticism in local body circles to-day, and indignation was expressed at the almost entire absence of details from the published report of the intentions of the board. The failure of the board to advise local authorities as to the reason for, as well as the nature of, the experiment was commented upon adversely. Criticism of the proposal itself, as far as it can be criticised in its present incomplete shape, was slightly guarded., although sufficient-was intimated to suggest that if the scheme is as comprehensive as is- suspected, the board will encounter difficulty in securing its endorsement by local authorities,. Fearing that the intention of the board is to place on sustenance every relief worker in Aucklar/ who is. over 50 years of nge, or, in other words, refuse them the right to work, authorities were to-day hinting at the need for an early conference, by which time the scale ,, of sustenance to be paid would doubtless have been made public. "Our Best Workers." All representatives of local bodies with whom the subject was discussed agreed that the only chance of success the scheme could possibly have would be by the maintenance, under the new arrangement, of the present rates the men received for actual relief work. However, it was pointed out that was not the only point at issue. It was readily conceded that many of the workers over 50 years of age did far better work than men 25 years their junior, and represented a type which wanted work, and not charity. "Why," said one' suburban Mayor, "our. best workers are men between 50 and 60 years of age. I can hardly believe that the Unemployment Board is proposing what appears to be suggested in the Press report from Wellington. If it is correct that all men over 50 are to go on sustenance, at a figure as yet unnamed, it will be a waste of man labour, and to say the very least of it, a disgrace." Another prominent Mayor said the board was making a mistake if it thought Auckland would accept such an experiment calmly. Absence of details prevented further comment, but, if it were intended to make a large section of the men unemployable, the board need not expect to "get away with, it." It appeared that the controlling authorities in Wellington went out of their way to make .administration difficult for the local bodies here. He was sure local Loi"es, once-. they were in possession of the details of the scheme, would meet to decide, what steps should bo taken. "Started at Wrong End." Amazement was expressed by another authority that such an important subject should be , treated by the board in such casual fashion. The locaLbodies, he contended, should have been consulted, and at least should have been apprised of what was to take place. "Our men want work, and they have to live," he added. "If it is proposed to pay by way of sustenance only half of what was received by way of relief wages, then someone will be called upon to make up the difference. The board appears to have started at the wrong end with its classification, since it is the younger, and not the older, workers who, with gradually improving conditions, will have all the chances of being reabsorbed in industry or in the meantime picking up the casual labour that will be offering." At What Rate? With the resumption this morning of Xo. 5 scheme, there was a fairly large attendance of unemployed outside the labour bureau. A number of the men stated that they were over 60, and had been on sustenance for a fortnight prior to Christmas. A single man said his grant was 6/8 a week, half of what he received in his relief working period. Another man, a married" relief worker, estimated that the sustenance he had been receiving was about 75 per cent of the amount of his relief wages. As no advice has been received by the local oflve of the Unemployment Board, the exact scale of sustenance payments to be enforced under the new scheme is still a matter of conjecture, but informed opinion is that, if the authorities in Wellington are serious over the proposal, the amount will be approximately half of the relief payl nient. *