HIGHER RATES OF SUSTENANCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21954, 1 December 1936, Page 12

HIGHER RATES OF SUSTENANCE

Increases of 6/- And 3/f a Week

PAYMENT OF CHRISTMAS

BONUS

(FBSSS ASSOCIATION XXLBGKAM.)

WELLINGTON, November 30,

The Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) revealed to-day that the recently-approved increases in sustenance rates were 3s a week for single men and 6s for married men. The increases operate from to-day. After commenting on the efforts made by the Government in its public works programme and its inducements to local bodies to begin large undertakings, and also the success of the placement scheme in placing more than 15,000 men in private employment, the Minister added that the Government expects able-bodied men who are offered work at standard rates and reasonable conditions to accept such offers, failing which they will be regarded as voluntarily unemployed, and therefore undeserving of * Government assistance m any Sh AC'hristmas bonus of £1 for women and single men, and £2 for‘ men will be granted to those wn qualify for relief or assistance in the week ending on December 5. Two weeks’ holiday will be granted m respect of the weeks ending December 26 and January 2 to those who would normally be entitled to ielief during those weeks, under the headings of men in receipt of sustenance or employed under scheme No. 5, and gold prospectors under scheme No. 15, including those on developmental work, but excluding those employed for 40 hours or more at standard 13 Where men are engaged by local authorities for full time at standard rates the usual subsidy will be paid in respect of the two weeks, P 1 vided the local authority grants the holiday and pays its proportion. Wheie scheme No. 5 wages are supplemented by the local authority to at least the nearest half-day above the weekly allocation, the usual subsidy will be provided during the period, irrespective of whether the local authority is prepared to supplement the pay of the men. , _ .. The Minister gave a definite warning that drastic action would be taken against those guilty ot misrepresentation to secure relief benefits, of which some cases were still occurring.