RELIEF ALLOCATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 4

RELIEF ALLOCATIONS

JOHNSONVILLE'S CASE

POSITION EXPLAINED

The following report of tho proceedings at a deputation to the Unemployment Board and tho Minister of Employment is supplied by tho Johnsonville Unemployment Committee:—

The committee was granted an interview with Mr. W. Bromley, of the Unemployment Board, and Mr. G. C. Godfrey, Commissioner of Unemployment, the Minister being unable to leave Parliament and Mr. Jesscp being absent in the South Island. The members of the deputation were Messrs. A. A. Moore (chairman of the Johnsonvilla relief coinniit'tee and of the ' Johnsonvine Town Board); E. AVindley (chairman of- the Makara County Council), i\ G. Molesworth (Johnsonvilie), A. H. Carman. (Tawa Plat), and Riddell (certifying officer). ' ' A protest'against the recent cut in relief -allocations was made by Mr. A. ■A., Moore, who pointed out that the effect of the cut was to force the local relief workers on to a rate which was insufficient to meet their simplest needs. The local bodies, he stated, were involved, in that the overhead charges continued, very largely, whether- the maximum time allowed was worked or a time cut was made. ACTUALLY A SAVING. •Mr. E. "Windley said that apparently the support the Makara County had given to extra schemes, such as "over the fence" and "small farm" schemes, had forced the board to reduce its allocations under No. 5 scheme. Mr. Bromley said that the board was actually saving: by supporting such schemes, and that every penny received was going to help the genuine unemployed. In any case, since the cut in allocations last October there had been no other reduction in allocations. The allocations had been increased for tho winter months, but as tho board had been spending more than it was receiving the cut had been necessary, but the allocation per man under No. 5 scheme had been constant since October. Mr. Windley protested against the removal of the Porirua men from the Johnsonvilie local committee, the sole allocating being now carried out for such men by tho postal officer at Porirua, without anyone else being consulted. He asked if Porirua could not bo again placed with Jolmsonville and Tawa Flat, under the Johnsonvilie local committee' and certifying officer. Figures were produced covering the period since January, showing the allocations, the men-registered, and the amounts allocated to tho classes of men. These sho\vecl that class A men, under the- latest allocation, would receive 33s 9c! per four weeks, class B £4 19s, and class C £6 18s 9d for four weeks, a decided cut when compared with the January and February payments. ' . . Mr. Bromley said' that no cut had been made by the board since October. Mr. A. H. Carman' asked how it was that the allocations at present were insufficient to give the men the same amounts as in January. Mr. Riddell asked whether the amount unexpended each week could be left to the local committee to reallocate. ' ■ ' UNEXPENDED. BALANCES. Mr. Bromley said that the board allowed for the return to, unexpended balances, and if these unexpended balances were ' retained, allocations would have 'to be reduced. The allocations were based on the number of men registered on the basis of weekly pay as follows.:—rClass A (single men), 12s 6d, class B (married men with one or two ohildren) 255, class" C (married men with two or more children) 37s 6cl. An increased registration would result in an increased allocation. These iigures were in all cases subject to certain cuts, and such deductions as 2 per cent, for administration and li'; per cent. for insurance. The ratio indicated was the basis; of all allocations,' but it was impossible to compare' one' district with any other, because some local officers in re-allocating the money to the individual men further divided the amounts in more divisions—for instance, class B men in some districts were subdivided into (a) married men, (b) married men with one child, (c) married men with two children, each reeeivin'g different amounts, whereas another district adhered to the three classes as fixed by the board. Mr. Bromley suggested the advantages of, the further subdivisions in order to help the more needy. He said that apparently Johnsonvilie had been receiving more than the due figure, owing to the full number of registered men not working, those who did not work thus receiving more per man than they should. This had now been adjusted, ' and had caused the apparent cut. WORKING TIME ON END. In reply to Mr. "Windley, Mr. Brpm,lcy said that the board would consider allowing the men in the county, particularly where travelling was necessary, to work their three weeks time on end each month, but, of course, they would still be paid in three equal amounts. This had been arranged elsewhere in order to help tho local body finding work for the men. Thus a man doing four days per week for three weeks out of four could work the twelve days right on end in each period. Mr. Moore asked if it 'could, riot rie arranged to place Johnsonville' on the same footing as Lower Hutt, Petone, and the cities, and he also emphasised that the Johnsonvilie men were in real need, and could not expect 'help from their fellow-citizens, most of whom were little better off than' the relief workers. : '

Mr. Bromley said it was quite impossible to alter Johnsonville's status at present. ; ' '' ■