Unemployment.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXI, Issue 3159, 20 April 1931, Page 5

Unemployment.

The recent drastic regulations in connection with the operation of the Unemployment Scheme have placed a heavy task on the shoulders of the local committee—the borough council. Complete new forms of registration have to be filled in and these embody some 30 questions to the applicant for employment. Some are of a very searching nature. The local committee and the certifying officer arranged for all unemployed to attest on the new forms on Thursday evening, and for several hours the Council Chambers was a very busy centre.

The certifying officer. Mr < G. Burrows, with two of his staff, assisted the men with the filling up of the forms. The .'Unemployment Committee —a full council—was in tjurn handed the forms and its duty was to certifv whether or not the applicant was eligible for employment, or whether all necessary information had been given on the form. Tho committee has been called upon to investigate all enrolments north of Clyde, and is the only committee operating in this district. Its sitting commenced at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening. The applications at times provided some keen argument, and a number of the applicants were called in and examined. In all 81 forms have to be dealt with. The committee sat continuously until just on 1 p.m., on Friday morning-, with onlv a brief interval for supper. By that time onlv 12 applications ban* been finalised, and Go still remain. This will necessitate a great deal more time, and tho committee has applied to Wellington for an extension of time to complete its work. An executive was elected consisting of Messrs .\. Stephens, G. Burrows, f. Bell, and C. W. L Roberts. The executive met on Friday morninsr, and will meet at any time to deal with an application or any point which might arise. Tn the applications alrcadv dealt with several have been referred to the Commissioner for a final ruling . A voucher for payment of the work on tennis courts in the Bannockbnrn Domain was passed after some discussion. This work had been undertaken without authority from the onlv authorised body operating 111 this district. All proposed wojrk UP to 30th September, has* to be placed before the Unemployment Commissioner at onec, and (he borough council must hold a special meeting this week to outline its programme.