RELIEF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1934, Page 14

RELIEF WORK

STANDARD OF PAY

RAISING THE RATE

LOCAL BODY HELP

"Many local bodies have laid themselves out to get what they can out of the Unemployment Board, or, in other ■words, to abuse the opportunities which are open to them under the No. 5 scheme," said the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, when declaring open the sixth annual meeting of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand today. Mr. Young referred to the fact that the Auckland, Wellington, and Christ«hurch branches of the institute had co-operated in various ways with the 3oca) bodies with a view to finding ■constructive work to be carried out under the unemployment schemes. The provision of the right ' type of work was a problem which concerned the ■Government as well as local bodies. An endeavour was being made, ho said, to develop through the local bodies a system whereby local authorities would pay standard rates of pay' •where possible for essential works. The Unemployment Board was prepared to, and did, subsidise the work up to the .requirements based on the relief grant to iNo. 5 scheme men, and it looked to local bodies to make a subsidy as well in order to bring the pay up to standard 'xates. Unemployment was a difficult problem, aud while there were all sorts of people with ideas for solving it, no Toyal remedy had been found. If a ■cure could not be found, the next best plan was to treat the disease to the ■best of their ability. It was very gratifying to • know that the institute ■was co-operating with local bodies in ■the matter of providing work. BUILDING SUBSIDIES. Mr. Young referred to the criticism '■which had been levelled at the Government during the time it was subsidising ■big building undertakings. The -Government's decision, however, had had the effect of stimulating the building industry and lowering the unemployment figures. Twelve months ago there •were 10,000 or 11,000 more unemployed than there were today. Since then the Government had developed two other phases of subsidy in connection with building. One scheme was to encourage the mass building of houses, and the other dealt with individual homes. Referring to the latter scheme, Mr. Young said that whore a person desired to "build a house and could show the board that for want of a little capital he was ■unable- to proceed with the work, the board was prepared to subsidise- the ■work to the extent of 8 per cent. Up to October 13 the board had received 1785 applications for subsidies. It had approved 1446 applications, which involved the employment of 6034 men. The total value of the work was £951,985. The board had declined 196 applications, involving the employment of 721 men, the total value of the work being £108,698. The applications declined were in respect of works not coining within the scope of the scheme, or which, in the opinion of the" board, would proceed without the assistance of a subsidy. Of the total cost of the works approved, £828,227 represented the amount which would be paid directly and indirectly in wages. VALUE OP INSTITUTE. Earlier in his address, Mr. Young said that along with other organisations the institute had had to contend with many difficulties, but the work it had done was of the utmost value. There was a great deal of work ahead of the organisation, and. the public required to bo educated to a point whereby they could realise the valuable- work that was being done and appreciate it. Many of the difficulties of the institute were brought about .by the lack of appreciation on the part of the public. The Minister stated that the Department of Internal Affairs would support the town-planning- exhibition which the institute proposed to hold in Wellington next spring, and its officers would be instructed to render every assistance possible.