RELIEF WORK WAGES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 232, 25 June 1921, Page 7

RELIEF WORK WAGES

BURDEN OF THE. FAMILY MAN. Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., considers that the man who has a family and is engaged on relief works at a flat rate of 12s. a day is having a very bad time. Mr. Mitchell recently wrote to the Act-ing-Prime Minister (Sir Francis Bell) a letter, in the course of which he said: "Let me give you two typical cases of men who came to enlist my help to obtain relief work the same day: (1) A married man, without, children, with wife working in town earning .£3 per week, requested my help to get him on relief work; His wages would be 725. per week, giving an income of £6 2s. for man and wife. (2) A married man-with four children, paying 355. per week tor rent, fire, and lighting, sought relief work. Like the above man, he would receive 725. per week. After taking out 355. rent and 255. per week for his food on job• he Would have to clothe himself and feed and clothe his wife and four children on the sum of 12s. per week, if he worked a full week of 48 hours, which works out to the magnificent sum of Is. lOd. per head per week, or 3d. per head per day, on which to feed and clothe his depend"I propose that you create a child, sustenance fund in connection with relief works, that the pay to all men on the works, whether married or single, should be the same, that you pay to the mother the sum of 2s. per day and Is. per day for each child under 16 years of nge, from such fund for every day’s work the husband performs. . . . I would go further, sir. and apply the principle nationally, but I propose to make that the subject for a Inter communication.’ ’ Tn reply. Sir Francis Bell wrote: "I will submit the question to Cabinet at an earlv date. But in anticipation. I may point out to you that we could hardly pav £1 2s. per day to a man with ten children under IS. If any scale were provided of increase of nav per child where there are children dependent, the increase must cease al a certain number."