"FURTHER REDUCTIONS"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 10, 13 January 1933, Page 8

"FURTHER REDUCTIONS"

RELIEF WORKERS' PROTEST

Under the heading of "Further Reductions" the I relief workers of New Zealand learn from Mr. , Jessep's statement that a further cut in sustenance is being mooted by the Unemployment Board (writes the secretary of the Wellington: District Relief Workers' Union). With this bogy before them, one cannot wonder at the growing unrest among the unemployedranks. Not only among the unemployed ranks is there: a feeling that all is not well, but also among the employed, and v the citizens of this Dominion. Your paper recently published motions:, of concern passed by church congregations, and other, public bodies, and numerous unemployment committees have in ( the past,few months resigned because of. : the . gross blundering- and.: apparent-inefficiency' of the board in handling the unemployment situation. The struggle to exist, far less live, becomes increasingly difficult for the relief worker. The longer he remains a relief worker, the harder it becomes. His wife and family find their wardrobe reduced, and in many cases the breadwinner, of the family has one suit for work and his days off. Many of these men become ashamed to be seen because of their appearance, and all because the pittance meted out to them by the board cannot keep the family in provisions, far Jess pay rent. •-..■• ' " »• ■ In order' to .assist themselves in their plight, the relief workers of Wellington; decided on a rent restriction campaign, taking the word of the' Right Hon. J. •£. Coates, one time Minister of Employment, that the money paid was sustenance, and as he. stated was not sufficient to pay rent. Owing to their stand rfelief workers in Wellington are being called before the Magistrate on a Court order. The statement made recently by Mr. Jessep^that the unemployed were costing the Government of this country from' three and a half to five millions of pounds per annum is entirely incorrect. The. entire fund used by the board is found by the people of New Zealand, and not one penny is paid from the Consolidated Fund. A statement made by one member of the board "that the Government was the people" will not suffice as the growing dissatisfaction Nof the people of New Zealandin the manner in which the National Government is- handling the affairs is ample proof that- the Government .is not the people. . . The Social Welfare Department takes every advantage of sheltering behind the Government: and its Unemployment Board, and is resisting any appeal for help, to what its secretary terms able-bodied men. A comparison as to what is payable under the Act, what the board states is payable, and what actually is paid is indeed interesting. The following schedule should show to the taxpayer that the Act is not being complied with as regards payment to the unemployed, while the Act is enforced even to the extent of forcing the payment of the sixpenny fine on the flat rate levy o£ 5s per quarter. , ■ , Payment - ' s ' authorised . • under Act, Board's Actual 1930. ■ ScaJe. payment. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Single man .. 1 10 ■ 0 15 0 0 13 9 Harried nian no children 1 IS 6 1 5' 0 13 9 Married man, " 1 child 2 2 6 1 10 0 18 9 Married man 2 children 2 6 6 1 15 0 1 13 9 Married man. 3 children 210 6 2 00 113 9 The computation in column three on the actual payment per week made at the present time .allows for the cut of one hour this week. Since the week ending the 17th November the relief workers of Wellington have lost ten hours, at a cost of 12s-Gd. It must be evident from these figures that the provisions made to relief workers is definitely insufficient. In view of these facts, and the ever-in-creasiDg fight to live, a united front is being taken by the relief workers of the Dominion in a refusal to pay any further instalments of the quarterly levy.