HOURS TO BE CUT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1931, Page 10

HOURS TO BE CUT

MANY STILL UNEMPLOYED

UNEXPENDED ALLOCATIONS

The reduced allocations to the Wellington Unemployment Committee were discussed at a meeting held yesterday afternoon, and the chairman (Mr, J. I. Goldsmith) pointed out some of the disabilities already existing, which would be increased with the reduced allocations. "Did you n Xl , C nj the whole of the allocations for last week?" lie asked the certifying officer (Mr. P. 11. Kinsman), who is the secretary of the committee. Mr. Kinsman said that that was the case within a, few pounds. The allocation was £4500, and the amount spent was £4442. "How many men have you engaged this week i" "There are 1300 two-day men, 1330 three-day men, and 288 single men," replied Mr. Kinsman. "That will involve the expenditure of £4390 if all are to be employed full time, but as there is only £4050 allocated for that week, it cannot be done. I intend sending out notices to all the local bodies concerned to shorten the employment by two or three hours. As certifying officer, I must keep within the allocations." "Has there been under-expenditure in previous weeks?" asked the chairman. "Yes," was the reply, Mr. Kinsman adding that he had tried to get the expenditures increased for the following week. The committee, said Mr. Butler, had evidently been forced into the position it occupied. It. was not fair that it should be left to the committee to tell the men that the hours were to be reduced. Some statement should have been made by the board or the Government. The chairman said that• - the certifying officer was notified that he must not exceed his allocations. Mr. Kinsman was compelled to do as he had done. He for one did not feel inclined to carry on under the present conditions. The committee was a mere buffer between the Government and the men. Ho considered that the committee deserved a little more considerate treatment.

Mr. F. D. Cornwall thought that they should immediately approach the Government and place matters before it. He would very much like to know tho total amount of the allocations which the committee had been unablo to expend. They would make a considerable sum.. . .. ■ ■

Mr. Kinsman said that he had placed the difficulties of the position before the Unemployment Board. It was very difficult to arrange the expenditure of allocations between nine loenl bodies without getting perilously close to exceeding the sums allocated. He had informed the board of the trouble of maturing arrangements for specified works within tho week for which the money was allocated, and had asked if the unexpended moneys for one week could not he expended the next, but the reply was that this could not be done. There were many works in hand from the City Council, but they could not be dealt with owing to the shortage of funds.

The chairman said that they had some 600 men, entitled to work ahead of some who were working, whose employment would mean £750. The reduced allocations would make the position worse. On the motion of Mr. Cornwall, it was decided that arrangements be made for a deputation to the Prime Minister as soon as possible.