UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT

RELIEF WORKS IN CITY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY OF £2OOO The Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) informed a deputation of Wellington members of Parliament on Saturday that the Government would make available a subsidy of £2OOO, calculated on the basis of standard wages, for unemployed relief works in Wellington.

The deputation, which consisted of Messrs. R. A. Wright, P. Fraser, R. McKeen, R. Semple, and C. H. Chapman, was asked by the Prime Minister to convey the decision to the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), and to request him to see Sir Joseph Ward in order to finalise the matter. Interviewed subsequently, the Mayor indicated that he would discuss the matter with the Prime Minister to-day. In making their representations to the Prime Minister, the deputation stated that there were 355 registered unemployed in Wellington at present Of that number, 145 had dependants, and there were 293 who could undertake heavy work. A PECULIAR POSITION HAS CHRISTCHURCH BEEN FAVOURED? Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, December 16. A peculiar position has arisen in regard to the assistance granted by the Government towards the relief of unemployment. By approaching the Prime Minister actually before he had taken office, Christchurch had the good fortune to secure a straight-out grant of £2OOO, whereas Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin have had to be content with a subsidy of a similar amount, involving the putting in hand of new works not provided for in the engineer’s schedule. Moreover, so far as Dunedin Is concerned, it has paid 12s. a day In the past for married men, and the assumption is that if the Government subsidy is accepted it will have to increase this rate to 14s. There is a feeling in some quarters that the action of the Government in this matter is rather invidious, as favouring one city against others.