RELIEF MEASURES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 66, 11 December 1930, Page 12

RELIEF MEASURES

Christmas Work SUBSIDY ON WAGES Employers’ Liability QUESTION OF PROTECTION The sum of £25,000 allocated by the Unemployment Board for subsidies to local bodies on a basis of £2 to £1 has been exhausted, according to an official statement made yesterday. It is hoped that this sum, with the amounts to be provided by local bodies, will result in work being found for 2100 men throughout the Dominion between now and the end of next month. In all instances the board has made it a condition of its subsidy that the maximum number of men should be employed by local bodies taking advantage of the assistance given. It is suggested that employment should be given in alternating periods where necessary so that men may be found at least a fortnight’s work. Local Organisation. . The attention of the board is nowbeing turned to its second scheme, under which it will subsidise wages up to seven shillings a day on a pound for pound basis. Of chief concern at the moment is the formation of local committees, and the board is particularly anxious that these bodies should be formed as soon as possible, as it will be through them that the operation of this scheme will be carried out. A large number of inquiries has already been made for assistance, and it appears that the second £25,000 set aside by the board for this measure of Christmas relief will be as eagerly sought as Was the first sum. Various questions concerning the granting of relief under this scheme occupied the attention of the board yesterday. Members had again spent the week-end in the various centres explaining the principle upon which the money would be distributed, but it is stated that numerous minor considerations will have to receive the board’s attention before it will be ready to commence operations. It is realised that delay is undesirable, and it is expected that finality will be reached within a day or two. Although a suggestion has been made concerning the bringing into effect of rules under which committees will work, attention is still being given to this question, and an announcement upon the point is expected to-day. Liability for Compensation. Apprehension has been expressed in many quarters concerning the liability of employers for compensation in case of accident to those men to whom they give casual employment. It appears that if a casual employee is injured the employer will be liable for compensation. This will not prove a serious consideration to many who are insured against accidents to' their employees, but it is natural that many persons who give a man work for a day or two in a garden or in other casual employment will not be protected. The question was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the board and it is expected that a satisfactory solution of the problem will be reached. An appeal is made to civic authorities to take the initiative in the formation of local committees. The board has emphasised that the assistance and cooperation of these committees will he essential to the working of the second ■scheme. The board’s subsidy will not exceed seven shillings a day in any one case, but the actual wages to be paid to relief workers under the scheme will be a matter for mutual arrangement between employer and employee. This means that while it might be possible for an employer to pay a man seven shillings a day, so bringing his wages up to 14/- a day, there will probably be others who will not be able to do so. In that case less will have to be accepted, but the opinion is that men will be advised to accept temporary work at lower wages rather than make it impossible for employers to take them on at all by demanding high rates of pay. LOOKING TO CABINET Reduction of Costs Dominion Special Service. Feilding, December 10. At the Oroua County Council meeting Councillor A. Campbell, chairman, speaking on the offer of the Unemployment Board to subsidise work in (he county, said the council would have to consider the -ratepayers, not the unemployed. Ratepayers were battling on and making nothing, and the council would have to consider the reduction of costs and lower rates, but he was looking to the Government to give a lead by reducing the salaries of Ministers, members of Parliament, and the Civil Service to show they meant it. STREET COLLECTION Mayor’s Fund Now £1454 A street collection in aid of the Mayor’s unemployment relief fund was taken yesterday, when over £l3l was secured, bringing the total of the fund to £1454 11/74. The following are the additional contributions received .yesterday

s. d. Minimax, Limited 1 1 0 Mrs. G. L. Jenness 5 0 0 Makower, McBeath and Co., Ltd rs o A.E.B 0 o Y.A 0 15 0 Miss D. L. Tanner 1 1 0 Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Solomon .. 0 H. B. Nicholls •» 2 0 Canadian Knight and Whippet Motor Company to 0 0 Kilbirnie School Junior Red Cross Circle 1 (1 0 St. Giles Presbyterian Church 7 12 0 Mr. Peter Fraser 1 0 0 Spiritualist Church of New Zealand 1 18 4 St. John’s Young - Men’s Bible ’lass 1 6 Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dwan 10 10 0 Per Ngaio Progressive Associat i o n ir» 11 0 Mr. and Mrs. D. Morgan O 0 0 Mr Jack Morgan i 0 0 Miss Olive Morgan 0 0 Proceeds street day collection 131 14 3i Mrs. Gillons* guessing competition (winning No., No. :>G) 3 7 0