PAY ON RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 172, 16 April 1932, Page 13

PAY ON RELIEF

Married and Single Men A. HUTT DEPUTATION Conditions Criticised A deputation of the Lower Hutt unemployed waited upon the local Unemployment Committee yesterday and asked for an Increase in the amount paid to men on relief works. In, introducing the deputation Mr. H. laiiv clough said that conditions were becoming serious and the men were receiving insufficient pay for a living. They were of the opinion that it was impossible for the country "to starve itself into prosperity.” Conditions iu the Lower Hutt in particular were deplorable. Hutt men were unable to live decently with the present; allocation. It was also alleged that the quality of the bread supplied was bad, and a sample of it was produced. Criticism of what he described as the Government’s scheme of semi-starvation was given by Mr. P. Shipman, who said that just as they had a right to fight for their country during the war, so they had a right to fight for their sustenance now. The time had come when requests were of no avail, and demands had to be made. The men were gradually being forced to the wall. Many men had children without decent clothing or boots. In some cases men had lost time through being unfit for heavy work, and in others time had been lost: through wet weather. Was it true that it was not possible to make up such time lost? Can Make L’p Lost Time. Ou Mr Mitchell replying that men who lost time through wet weather could make up the time, Mr. Shipman asked if men who lost time through sickness could not be treated in the same manner. Their case was more deserving than that of tho men who lost time through wet weather. Many relief workers until recently did not know how degrading it was to have to seek sustenance. Mr. N. Carter said that iu winter months many men who were unfit for heavy work would be laid aside and some opportunity should be given them to make up the time so lost. Single men were receiving an average of 6/S per week, and to live respectably on that amount was impossible. About 70 per cent, of the single men were living on tbeir parents. If those men were deprived of the support of their parents they would kick too. He felt that it was asking too much for single men to live on 6/S a week. Representing the Hutt county men. Mr. J. Cowden said his friends bad asked him to demand full time aud to return with a definite answer. It was one thing to tell a relief worker he could live on the rate of pay, but it was another to do it. Some men on the Hutt County had to walk a great distance to the work, aud their footwear was unsuitable for the task, but they could not afford new boots. Speaking on behalf of the married man, Mr. J. Hourigan said that men who were entitled to three days were only working two days a week. Single men’s camps were to be condemned because conditions there were of an unhealthy nature. They were advising young men to go to gaol rather than go to the camps. He hoped the matter would be placed before the authorities. The camp system was establishing a bad precedent and would be hard to stamp out. If a man refused to go to camp he was refused sustenance. It was conscription of labour. Regarding the postponement of work in wet weather, he suggested that if the weather was wet when the men reported in the morning they should stand by for an hour to see if there was any improvement, instead of the present system of reporting morning and afternoon. He also suggested that the starting day for married men should be Mondays instead of Tuesdays. Daily Inspection of Bread. Replying to the deputation, Mr. Mitchell said the committee would try to make arrangements for an official to inspect the bread each day. If men who were fit only for light jobs sent in their names they would get suitable work. The Hutt County mon were treated in the same way as others. Everything possible would be done to accede to the requests, and notification would be made as soon as anything was known. The deputation then retired ami addressed a large crowd of relief workers, who had gathered outside the Borough Council Chambers. The result of the interview was stated and criticism of local officials and organisations was indulged in by various speakers. A meeting will be held next Monday night. A. case of alleged injustice against a relief worker having been quoted and discussed, it was decided to march en masse to the liquse of Mr. W. Cole, a member of one of the local charitable organisations and demand rations for the people interested. Having arrived at the house, the deputation discussed the matter with Mr. Cole, and a satisfactory arrangement was made. Petone Meeting. A mass meeting of Petone relief workers was called for at. two o’clock at the Recreation Ground. About 130 attended the meeting, and appointed a deputation to wait upon the Petone Relief Committee to ask it to resign and throw the whole responsibility in regard to unemployment upon the Government. t Thc deputation was also to ask the committee to provide more work. The meeting with the Itelief Committee wtts taken in cainei’.i, and no demonstration took place. the meeting dispersing quietly.