GROWING BURDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 101, 26 October 1932, Page 11

GROWING BURDEN

UNEMPLOYMENT EELIEF

POSITION MUST BE FACED

Concern was expressed by Councillor F. Campbell at the Lower Hutt Borough Council meeting last evening regarding the heavy burden with which local bodies are faced in relieving unemployment. The following report was before the council from its finance committee:— "Your committee desires to draw the council's attention to the expenditure for the half-year and the allocation on the estimates for the relief of unemployment, the opinion being expressed that the unexpended balance would only be sufficient to provide- for materials and supervision under the No. 5 Scheme until approximately the end of December. The amount allocated was £.2500, and tho expenditure to the 30th of September is £1660 18s Id, leaving a balance available of £839 Is lid, against which has still to be charged the premium for insurance from tho Ist of April until the responsibility for this was ' assumed by1' the Unemployment Board." . Councillor Campbell said that Lower Hutt was not alone among local bodies in this matter. The City Council and other bodies were finding it increasingly difficult to finance the provision of materials and supervision, and the sooner the position was faced the better. A lot of men would have to be carried over the summer months and a very difficult winter had to be faced. He had foreseen.the position last year and had suggested making greater provision. It was most difficult to hold the balance evenly between the council's duty to its ratepayers and to the unemployed. , • On Councillor Campbell's motion it was decided to appoint the Mayor and Councillors. Mcßain -and Campbell a committee to draw up'a report and to discuss the matter with the Minister of Employment. For the period, ended Sth October the expenditure in tho borough under No. 5 scheme for the current year was: —Government expenditure, £21,388 3s 3d; borough expenditure. £1724 15s lid.