RELIEF PAYMENTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 258, 28 July 1934, Page 14

RELIEF PAYMENTS

Upper Hutt Discontent DEPUTATION ARRANGED Criticism of the unemployment allocations to the Upper Hutt district was voiced last evening by the Upper Hutt Borough Council, which unanimously decided, on the motion of Cr. J. Blewman, to appoint a deputation from the council and the local unemployment committee to wait on the Minister of Htnployment to stress the necessity of more relief for the unemployed in the district. The member for the district, Hon. A. D. McLeod, is to be asked to Introduce the deputation. A further motion was passed asking the Mayor. Mr.’ A. J. McCurdy, to call a public . meeting Immediately to Invite support from the business people of the town for the deputation. The Mayor said that the local unemployment committee had been endeavouring to arrange for the Minister of Employment and the Prime Minister to receive a deputation on tire question of sustenance and the stand-down week at Upper Hutt. The member for the district had been unable to arrange for the deputation to meet the Ministers as they were seldom together In Wellington at the same time. The committee had informed Mr. McLeod that it was desirous of meeting either of the Ministers, and Mr, McLeod had not been able in the early stages of the session to arrange that. Cr. G. H. Guthrie, who ■was a member of the committee, had suggested that It might be as well to wait until the Government had developed the reorganisation which was at present in hand. Moreover, the portfolio had changed hands, In moving his motion! Cr. Blewman Said that he had brought the motion forward because he thought the matter hgd been dropped. The unemployed in the district were suffering from a disability as compared with those in the towns. The Upper Hutt men were getting only three weeks’ work out of four, while the town men/ were getting the full allocation. AH the rural districts in New Zealand' were trying to bring pressure to bear on the Goyernjnent in an endeavour to be placed on. the same basis as the towns.

Cr. W. Greig seconded the motion. Strong exception to the Upper Hutt district being classed as rural was expressed by the Mayor. The local committee and the council, he said, were Of the,opinion that the fact of the Silverstream bridge crossing the Hutt Biver a few miles from Upper Hutt should not moke the difference between an Industrial and rural classification. Only five per cent, of the Upper Hutt unemployed were formerly engaged in rural occupations, the remainder being professional men or tradesmen. “It is absolutely ridiculous,” agreed Cr. W. Fortune. “There is no colour of right for the division,”