BELIEF FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 114, 10 November 1933, Page 9

BELIEF FUNDS

BOARD'S POLICY CRITICISED

"The plain truth of the matter is that, they are not using the funds for the reason they were , raised,'' said Councillor E. Windley at today's meeting of the Makara County . Council, | when criticising the board's policy of 1 making allocations. . ; In reply to'a request from the council for a more just'allocation for the unemployed in the Porirua-Titahi portion of the county, the Unemployment Board stated that it appeared from the figures quoted by .the council - that the rates provided for workers at Porirua were the highest possible, according to classification, on : the basis df the allocation to that centre, and compared fay-, ourably with those provided in other comparable centres. The Johnsonville allocation was capable ; ,of providing slightly more than that made to Porirua, but it,would, be appreciated that it was not possible for financial and other reasons ito standardise allocations i^verywhere. Local "conditions in the various centres must be taken into account in ttesame way as the circumstances and needs of' individual applicants for relief. From the amounts that Classes B andi C men were stated to be receiving.it would appear that the local certifying officer was giving those workers a higher ration1 than that allowable on the allocation. It was regretted that it was riot, possible to place the Porirua allocation on precisely the same basis:as that of Johnsonville. CouncillorE. Windley said that, taking into account the individual responsibilities of the unemployed in Porirua, Lthe, allocation was not■ fair. He ;, did not think the reply to the council's rei quest was satisfactory. ' The Unemployment Board had used-the funds for other purposes- besides, unemployment relief, and when the council mado a request it stated it could notiafford -to i grant it. "There is general dissatisfaction with the whole alocation, and I would like to know why local bodies have no representative on the board," ho said. "Local bodies are carrying the scheme and the Unemployment Board is distributing the revenue."