NEW RELIEF SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1932, Page 4

NEW RELIEF SCHEME

I'WORSE THAN EYEK,"

JU&CftJRERS' CRITICISMS

on the new, scale of relief announced by the' Minister of Un.<2ijiployment, the secretary of the ■General Labourers' Union (Mr. P. M. Butler)., who'is also honorary secretary of the;, relief workers' section, which eomprisbs'the ijiajority of relief workers iti- staged that as •far as' Wellington was concerned the hew policy gave no relief to the men I but on ttLo" contrary.^wasa_;<lecided feSiiction. .He■said that Jklr...Coates had Tdiig ago promised to cut out the V^tand-dbwn' week,'' which was causing considerable hardship to the work'ersj.but now that he has made his pronouncement; there is a "very black pigger. in the wood pile." : :.]fndef the" old. scheme, a single man averaged £2 14s per month, which was augmented in many cases by relicf v from the Social:WelfareiPepartment to tho extent of ssf making the single "man's 'average' ■•£ 2-19s1 for 48 -hours' work. Under the new scheme, the single man ■will receive '£3 f0r.64 hours work. A most-decided reduction:

Under the old scheme, married men averaged £5"125-6 d per month for 48 hours work, winch was further augjnented,from.the Social Welfare Department during his standdown week. The new: scheme .will force him to'work 80 hours for £5, a reduction of over; 20 percent. In connection with the four--4a7 'men, who are men wiffi three ehild'ren or more, they averaged under the r'old; scheme: £7 lbs .per month for 96 hours' rwork, which was augmented on iheir- stand-down week to the extent of .about JSs.from the Social Welfare Do,'partment, making their to tar average ■'■£8 ss. "Under'the new scheme these ■men will be-asked, to work 128 hours, -and will receive £8 per .month. This is also';a reduction. '-. ..'

: How the new scheme will work out, is shown in the'following figures subjaiittecTby Mr. Butler

Man with Wifo—for a Month. 4 weeks at 255":".".:.:..... £5 0 0 Sociali-Welfare •':■ ' '....' Nil-

•!..*' "The above figures are based on the ■ Absolute minimum, and"l doubt," said '{Mr^ Butler, "whether it is possible to ■•"obtain food for the amount allowed, and it will "be noticed that no allowance has beeji made for clothing, Tnedical expenses/ or any other of the items of household expenses.

» "These figures show a deficiency of '£3 9s, and if Mr. Coates or tho Unemployment, Board can tell.us how a •married'maw is to provide a home for limself and his w4fo for £5 per month •\ie will bo decidedly grateful.

i-; "In. flic case of the man with two '■children, basing the lent at 25s- per jwcekj food at £5, firing and lighting ;[filj and not making any allowance for 'school fcooks, clothing, or anything else, •makes a deficiency in this case of £4 per month." *

: TotaF,-. r;.VV...i-.':;~..:...--£5 0 0 Stent 4 weeks at £rl';.>... £4 0 0 (Pood for-mbntji •,.......... : •. 3 15 .0 Kring^and lighting ...... 0 14 0 'r- Total' ' .V....... V" -^8 . -9 0 ; Deficiency £3 9 0