RELIEF WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 8

RELIEF WORKERS.

INQUIRY IN AUCKLAND

BY MEMBER OF BOARD.

POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENTS. Following representations made to the Minister of Finance, Mr. C'oatcs, on his recent visit to Auckland by a deputation from unemployed workers' interests, as well »i> from the local authorities in the city and country area employing relief labour, Mr. (1. A. Paseoe, member of the Unemployment Board, is at present in Auckland to investigate the whole position. "Tho position is," explained Mr. Paseoe this morning, "that Mr. Coates undertook to have certain matters looked into following the representations made by the worker* and the employing authorities. These questions have come before the Unemployment Board, and 1 have come from Wellington to investigate the whole position, with the various officials in the Auckland district. After I have made investigations, it is possible that certain adjustments may bo made. "Under the*e conditions T do not propose to receive deputations, as by so doing 1 would oiilv re-cover the around alreiulv traversed by Mr. Oatcs." Mr. * Paseoe" also mentioned that the matters brought before Mr. Coates by the relief workers' representatives were put in writing.

MESSAGE FROM MR. COATES

Mr. Pascoe's arrival in Auckland was subsequent, to a telegram received by Mr. Pi K. Lark, president of the National Union of Unemployed from Mr. Coates, who said:— "Referring to representations made to me at Auckland recently, the matter was placed before the Minister concerned and the Unemployment Hoard immediately on my return to Wellington. I am 'advised'there is no question of the men working full time in camp getting le>* than the sustenance men in Auckland city, it being stated that the wages paid to camp workers range between 37/0 and 50/ a week. 1 am informed the difficulty arises because in some of the country districts the scheme •> payments are thaw the sustenance rates in the city. This 1 understand hrs. always been so and the recent variation in the allocations tended to narrow.the gap between these two and Jiot to widen it. "However, a number of difficulties have arisen, due to .an effort on the part of the board to differentiate ill the rates of pay between men in the actual allocation centre. It hns been decided to reinstate the rationing system, particularly milk, as an alternative to the procedure suggested previously of raising the necessitous cases into another classification. Tam sorry not to have got further with the matter."