LOCAL RELIEF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 63, 12 September 1932, Page 8

LOCAL RELIEF WORK

MOEE MEN THAN JOBS

A DIFFICULT POSITION

The rumour that the stand-down week was to be re-instituted in Wellington for men on the No. 5 Scheme was denied to-day by Mr. W. Bromley, a member of the Unemployment Board.

"It is the first I have heard of it," said Mr. Bromley, when asked to comment on the report. "I should say that it is untrue."

Probably-the rumour arose as the re;

suit of the temporary arrangements being made at the Wellington' Unemployment Bureau to cope with a difficult situation which has arisen pending the completion of the arrangement between the Unemployment Board and the Wellington City Council for the financing of local works. Tho council has practically come to the limit of its resources, and it is understood that a satisfactory arrangement is being made to meet tho position. In the meantime there are more men on the local unemployment register than there are jobs for, and it is understood that in order to be fair to all relief workers a rota has been introduced, whereby the men will take turns in standing down. From information gleaned from city officials, it is evident that some of the bigger jobs are drawing to a close, but it is not anticipated that any large body of men will be deprived of work through the cessation of • city works through completion for some time to come, though small bodies of men will be left "ia the air" as their jobs cease.

Until recently those men' who were fit for work, but for whom work could not be found were paid 90 per cent, of what they would have earned while working, but from to-day this payment has been reduced to 50 per cent, of their possible earnings, and at the end of the month nothing will be paid in the way of sustenance unless work is done for it. ■

The Wellington City Council has already borne more than its share of alleviating distress, and there is now no money available to pay the council's portion of the total cost in material, insurance, supervision, and transport for new jobs, and until the agreement between the council and the Unemployment Board has been completed there will be a tendency for the number receiving sustenance to increase. When ,the men not engaged were receiving. 90 per cent, of their possible earnings the position was not so bad, but now that' the sustenance for these men has been cut down to 50 per cent, it is realised that it would ,be unfair if some sort of rota were not introduced, enabling the men to share as equally as possible any work that is offering. It is understood from those arranging a deputation' on the question of sustenance allowances that there are at least 300 fit men in Wellington for whom work cannot be found under the No. 5 scheme.