UPPER HUTT RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 14

UPPER HUTT RELIEF

» LETTER FROM MINISTER

COUNCILLORS CRITICAL

The Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) has written to the Upper Hutt Borough Council stating that it is regretted that the board cannot agree to the Upper Hutt allocations for relief being placed on the same basis as those operating in the Wellington city area. Mr. Hamilton states that he has made inquiries into the allegation that the alio-' cations have been reduced subsequent to his visit, but he has ascertained that no reduction in the basis has taken place during that period. "Moist extraordinary," said a councillor, when the Minister's letter was read, at last evening's meeting of the council. "It seems to be a pity that the Minister in a matter of this kind should shirk his responsibility, and put it on to the Unemployment Board," said Councillor W. Greig. There was considerable discussion at the meeting for a time on the question of the basis of allocation for relief\Some councillors maintained that less was now being received in the borough than before the Minister's visit some months ago. The Mayor (Mr. A. J. McCurdy) was asked, as chairman of the unemployment committee, whether there had been a reduction in the allocation since the Minister's visit, and he replied that a new basis of allocation had been instituted, and it had resulted in a reduction. Councillor A. Howell said that every time the Minister wrote to or waited on the council less money came to the borough. A suggestion was made that the figures for four weeks before and after the Minister's visit should be prepared as regards unemployment in all grades of work. Councillor Greig expressed the opinion that the conference with the Minister had been for nothing. Councillor G. S. Bates said he did not think Councillor Greig was in order in saying the Minister shirked his responsibility; the Minister would not dictate to the board as to differentiating between the allocations to various local bodies. Councillor W. Fortune said that a surplus was shown in the Unemployment Board's funds. What was the use of that .when people were starving? he asked. Councillor G. H. Guthrie quoted an official statement that the surplus was neces-1 sary in case of an unexpected increase in the. number, of unemployed. It was decided to send a copy of the Minister's letter to the local unemployment committee to report to the council. . .