Unemployment.

Cromwell Argus, 30 March 1931, Page 5

Unemployment.

A inch ing of the local Unemployment Committee was held on l\cdnesday evening and was attended by Messrs C. W. J. Roberts (chairman), J. Grant, J. Bell, J. Purcell, R. Orr, and G- Burrows (certifying officer). Mr Burrows explained that it had been suggested by the Commissioner that Ministers of religion should be added to local unemployment committees, and on his motion the names of Rev. Chisholm and Rev. Father Martin were added. The former attended and took his seat on the committee. A copy of the latest regulation defining those eligible to conic within the scope of the schema was read. Embodied (therein was a condition providing for the investigation of an employees private resources, if necessary, a signed declaration. 'I his created a long discussion. From the regulations also it appeared that a tradesman who was out of work through the depression was not eligible, but the committee had discretionary powers in this respect. The list of those registered and employed was reviewed troin the particulars given on the forms. Some who were tradesmen at one time but had not followed their calling for years, and had, without- being in possession of full details, signed as tradesmen. In such cases the committee agreed that tho necessary alteration could be made. Two cases were dealt wi'jh as ineligible and in two other cases it was decided to take declarations. The certifying officer sought directions from the committee in respect to the various points raised in the regulations. A motion carried was that for the direction of this committee 110 man bo given employment under the No. 5 scheme whose income from private sources is equal to the amount which can be earned under the scheme. In the discussion it was agreed that a man with an income less than the amount which. could be earned, was entitled to- earn the difference up to the regulation amount, including his private income 1 . Mr Burrows presented a statement skewing that to date whe amount pent through tne agency of the local committee amounted to £ 350. Another point presented was that two miners could uit a Government subsidy of £2 ids each for a week s worn 111 driving a tunnel to prospect xur gold, it tney did so they would be ineligible tor work under No. 5 scheme lor a fortnight. Opinions exjjicsoed were that tms was unreasoncllilU. _ /ui application from a farmer who already had a man employed under No. 4a scheme, to employ an additional hand, was held over as details in the tirst instance had not been completed. Tho Bannockburn Domain Board applied for assistance in constructing -tenuis jeourts on the domajjjn. In reply to questions the secretary, Mr J. Parcell, said the Board was properly qonsfcjitiited. \Vht{ii .'Constructed the courts would probably be handed over to ( the tennis club. In view of recent announcements by the Commissioner the committee was very doubtful whether the funds could be used in providing playing areas for any sport bodies. It was decided to state a case to the Unemployment Board for a ruling, and if favourable the Bannoc/kburn application is to take precedence. The Board wrote in connection with work carried out by a farmer •at Bendigo under the No. 2 scheme, but in which all details had not been observed. —The clerk explained that the application had never come before the com in 3'. tee. All that was done was the result of a telephone message from Mr Bodkin. It was left with the clerk to fonrard a reply to the Board. The meeting entered into a lengthy discussion on the rapidly-increasing work, which was seriously encroaching on the official duties of the certifying officer and the town clerk. Tho discussion, however, did not produce a soliVion of the position.