MEN ON RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 120, 14 February 1935, Page 10

MEN ON RELIEF

Many Questions Relating to Unemployment INCREASED ALLOCATIONS Evidence that the unemployment problem is still foremost in the minds of many members of Parliament was forthcoming when the House of Representatives resumed yesterday afternoon. Most of the many questions addressed to Ministers related to the conditions of relief workers, and to the allowances made by tlie Unemployment Board for their assistance. Tlie Governnitent’s attitude was summed up by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in bis reply to an urgent question by Mr. W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central). He said that the Unemployment Board was endeavouring to have the maximum number of unemployed reabsorbed in employment under standard conditions. The board’s progress in this direction was shown by the fact that the combined number of 32.900 on sustenance and scheme 5 relief to-day was 12.50( less than the peak number of 40,t00 in August, 1933. ami was the lowest since March. 1931. Relief allocations to these men hud ••eeently been increased and were to-day on a much more favourable basis that’ was tlie ease a year ago. Sustenance Payments. Speaking of sustenance payments, Mr. Forbes said that an additional annual expenditure of £175.000 was involved. in the increases granted recently to the unemployed, and .that further general increases could hot nt present be made without endangering the stability of the unemployment fund. The Government am’’ the Unemployment Board were, however, closely watching the position, and wore anxious to make the best possible provision to meet cases in which specially circumstances were shown, on investigation, to exist. Tlie position of the nnemp.o.w.l worker in country districts was mentioned by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ind., Thames). He asked tlie acting-Mmi-ster of Employment, Sir Alexander Young, if he wou’il instruct the Unemployment Board to remove the unfair dlsciimlnatton Imposed atrain-4 the country relief worker by Mio differential scale of payments, and which bad been the cause of much suffering b.> men. women and young children. The cost of living in many townships was quite as high as in the cities and the chance of obtaining work was considerably smaller. No Unfair Discrimination. The Minister said there had been no unfair discrimination used against country relief workers in designing the new .scales of unemployment relief. On the contrary, the Government had had as one of its specific objects the narrowing of the gap previously existing between allocations to urban and rural centres. A sum of £175,000- a year was entailed in the operation of the new seules, and lie had been advised by the Unemployment Board that a large proportion of this increase wns being paid to men registered in country areas. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), asked the Minister if he would consider raising tlie amount paid to relief workers by ten shillings a week, and Mr. F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South) urged the Government to take steps to restore tlie ration relief formerly granted to relief workers with four or more of a family. Individual cases of hardship were referred to by Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon). He gave notice to ask the Minister of Employment whether he would request the Unemployment Board to withdraw the order recently issued compelling unemployed men on sustenance to report to the Post Office and the bureau several times a week, instead of once a week as in the past. Mr. Sullivan, associated with Mr. E. T. Tiraketeue (Southern Maori), said lie would ask the Minister if it were true that an order had been issued by tlie Unemployment Board discriminating between tlie rates paid to Maori and pakelm relief workers, and whether such an order would be withdrawn immediately.

FIRE RISK IN COUNTRY

Mr. Forbes to Confer With Railways Board The fire risk involved in the passage of trains through drought-stricken areas- was the subject of au urgent question iu the House of Represent,! tives yesterday. Mr. J. Linklater (Govt., Mnnawatnt asked Hie Prime Minister whether be would have drastic steps taken to minimise the risk of fire from this cause, and Mr Forbes assured him that he would confer with the Railways Board to see that everything was done to eliminate risk

Mr Linklater suggested that if no improvement could be found for present methods, the Minister should instruct railway officials to have lines patrolled after every train so that outbreaks of fire could be extinguished tit once A similar suggestion was made by Mr. W II Field (Govt... Otaki), who said that manv thousands of pounds of damage had been done through fire caused by engine sparks, ami it was essential that immediate action be taken

When the Prime Minister had replied Mr. P C. Webb (Lab.. Buller) inter jected: “Burn more West Coast coal and von will have no lives.”

; PEAT FIRE DAMAGE • Assistance for Waikato J Farmers The extent to which tlie Government ’ is prepared to assist farmers vyhose : properties have been damaged by the 1 peat fires in the Waikato district was ’ outlined by tlie Minister of Finance,’ 1 Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, when replying to an urgent question asked by Mr. F. 1 Lye (Govt.. Waikato) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Loans will be granted in necessitous cases, but those who are in a position to finance the cost of repairs themselves will be expected to do so without Government assistance. Reference was made by Mr. Lye to Ike seriousness of tlie peat fires iu tlie Waikato. He said that they had caused loss of pastures, fencing and other improvements. ami that the financial resources of tlie great majority of those adversely affected had been depleted. He asked the Minister whether the Government would favourably consider granting financial assistance to enable the settlers to regrass tlie burnt,areas, and generally to rehabilitate tlieir farm ; properties. An assurance that tlie Government recognised the seriousness of tlie position in the Waikato was given by Mr. Coates. He said tllat arrangements for the necessary labour to prevent the spread of fires had been made through the Unemployment Board, but local authorities were asked to co-operate. The Government had agreed to make available to the local bodies concerned a sum of money over and above the contribution from the Unemployment Board. Regarding the rehabilitation of farm properties, the Minister said tlie Government had decided to accept applications for loans in necessitous cases from those whose properties had been damaged. Arrangements would e made for reports ou the damage to be obtained ami applications would be considered by a special committee. Any assistance provided would be by way of loan only, and those who were iu a position to finance the cost of repairs themselves would he expected to do so without Government assistance Tlie method followed would be roughly that adopted in the Pahiatua earthquake. VISIT TO LONDON Four Parliamentarians Four members ci the New Zealand branch of the Empire. Parliamentary Association will visit London next July to take part in a conference of the association Tlie invitation of the parent body was accepted nr a meeting of the New Zealand branch yesterday The selection of tlie four representatives has been held over for further consideration. It is likely that the secretary. Mr. C. M. Bothamley, Clerk of Parliaments, will travel with the ~ others.