RELIEF PAY RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 139, 14 June 1934, Page 9

RELIEF PAY RATES.

TOWN AND COUNTRY. "Many relief -workers on a lower basis of payment in tho country are not so- hard pressed as those in the cities." This contention, is reiterated by the Minister-of Employment in reply to a letter from the Papakura Chamber of Commerce protesting against the differential rates of pay. The president, the Rev. W. C. Wood, in commenting on the letter, eaid that evidently tic Unemployment Board had "dug their heels in," but that did not alter the fact that 19/9 in Papakura for a married man with two children was not equal to 28/8 in the city areas. He knew of a Papakura relief man who lost his house and went to live in Mangcrc, with the result that at once ho received 0/6 more in pay and a 4/0 grant for groceries, so that he was 11/ better off at once. There was neither rhyme nor reason in that kind of thing. The Minister's argument was, that a man in Papakura would have a cow and'some poultry and would grow a few vegetables. "But," said Mr. Wood, you can count those people on fingers of two hands."