UNEMPLOYED FIGURES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 14

UNEMPLOYED FIGURES

CAMPS AND GRANTS

MINISTER'S ATTITUDE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CIIRISTCIIURCIT, This Day. A deputation representing the relief workers waited on the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A, Hamilton) this morning and asked for more grants for sustenance in money. The speakers declared that poverty was widespread and that many wives and children were suffering from malnutrition. They also protested against married men going into camps, , Mr. Hamilton, replying, said that the Unemployment Board'had a slightly better credit balance than this time last year, but the number of unem-; ployed waa bounding up. Tho last return showed an increase of 2000. He did not know why the unemployed wanted to be paid money rather than in kind. He knew of no centre getting a better allocation than Christchurehj which was getting its fair share. If the registrations got too high the board might have to cut int<^ its reserves. . - ■ ■ , A voice: What are the reserves? Mr. Hamilton: One, week's allocation, about £80,000. He added that no city was doing bettor than Christchureh in tho'matter of additional help. He did not understand the objections about going into camps. ... A vojee: Do you intend to conscript men into camps'? The Minister: We say that if a man refuses a standard job, then it his own responsibility. Voice: We won't starve in a land of plenty. The Minister: Threats like that won't got you anywhere. Mr. Hamilton added that he could not give an assurance that tho 10 per cent, cut in work would be restored.