RELIEF RATES

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 10

RELIEF RATES

NEW SCALE DISCUSSED

LOWER HUTT COUNCIL'S OPINION

EFFECT ON LOCAL PEOPLE

A statement was made last evening by the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. J. W. Andrews, in connection with the new scale of payment for relief workers. • . . : . ■' '' The matter, was introduced by a letter from the Borough of St. Kilda, I which asked Lower Hutt for support in a protest to the Government "against the introduction oi regulations which tend to further humiliate the already depressed relief worker. in regard to the revised scales of relief under the No. 5 scheme," and asking for the Lower Hutt.. Council's assistance and co-operation. -Mr. Andrews explained that the Lower Hutt relief committee embraced an area beyond the borough in the Hutt County, but in regard to the workers within the borough he could definitely say that the new scale was an iriiprovement. THE MAYOR QUOTES FIGURES. Mr. Andrews said he thought the council. might. have joined with St Kilda in; representations to the Minister concerning' the new rates where they were reductions below the previous rates, but not to condemn the new rates generally. : Under the old scale there were only five classifications, whereas under the scale now in operation there are eighteen. "The new scale is definitely fairer proportionately to all1 on relief, but it imposes :a hardship on numbers who have suffered reductions of. the, previous small payments. If the board had been able to regrade the groups, so that benefits of increases could have been ,giv;en .to those most needing them,' without- having to reduce others (and I think that this might have, been found possible when the reductions in nuihbers of men on relief are taken into account), then I should have been very happy about it. I have; gone into the matter very exhaustively with Mr. Williams, secretary of the Telief committee, and I find the position to be as follows in the district which we administer; that is, the Borough of Lower Hutt and part of the Hutt County Council extending to Stokes Valley, inclusive:— "There are 622 men. on our lists at present, comprising 488 from the1 town and 134 from the country. Under the old rates 81 single men were paid 13s 2d each per week. . Under the new rates 69 of these (town) are to get 15s, and 12 (country) only 12s. "153 married men without families previously received 22s 6d; 126 are now to get 245, and' 27 21s per week. "117 married men with one child previously received 27s 6d; under the new scale 96 are to receive 28s, and the 21 in the country 255. "120 married men with two children received 32s 6d; 79 are now getting 325, p-> T the other 41 only 29s per week. . . "151 married men • with •■ three or more children previously each received 3.7s 6d. There .are now ten classes in this group, and 56 town dwellers with three . children receive 365-each, while 14 country get 335. 26 with 4 children get 38s and 12 get 35s each. '■'■-- '...-• . ;. ■■>, . 22 with's children get 40s- and-sgfet 37s each. " ■•■ ■ ■■•■■: ■■■•. .■.-.•.-..- ;-v- ;.-'■ 10 with 6 children^ get 42s and 1 gets 39s each. 4 with 7 or more children get 44s and 1 gets 41s each. : ■-..:- ■ "The total wages cost to the board was £864 9s per week under the old scale, and it is now £866 7s, so that the new scales. are to cost the board £1 18s per week for this large area assuming that the numbers on reliaf remain fairly constant. PROMISE OF RESTORATION? "If the board will increase the rates of the men with two children back to 325.6 d and the three children rate back to 37s 6d, we must approve of their scales, so far as the town men are concerned, and I think that is as far as we as a council can go. It is for the County Council or some other body to riiove in the matter of the country men. I am advised by Mr. W. Nash, M.P., that he has Mr. Bromley's assurance that those two classes will be increased back to the old rates." ' : Under these circumstances, he moved that the letter from the Mayor of St. Kilda should be received. SUPPORT FOR PROTEST. Councillor W. Wilson said he was sorry he could not agree with the Mayor. It was not right to look at the matter as it affected Lower Hutt only. The question was a national one, «nd the council would strengthen the hands of those who were protesting against reductions if it supported St. Kilda. Was the Mayor sure the two. grades.that had been reduced would be restored? If these were restored it showed a rapid change of front on the part;'of. .the Government—a change brought 'about, evidently, because of rumours of protests by local bodies. He moved.as an amendment that the St. , Kilda protest be upheld. Councillor J. E. Napier seconded the amendment, and said the new scale put the relief -Worker in a worse position than previously.: The board was adopting its old policy of juggling with figures. The unemployment fund was in la healthy condition, and yet the rates were not being materially increased. He could see no reason why the actions of the board should be whitewashed. In reply to Councillors Wilson and Napier, the Mayor said that Mr. Nash had informed him that evening that Mr. Bromley had given his assurance that the two rates which showed a re!ductioft TvoifltJ .be restored/" ' "'-■-' Councillor B.! Ginger said "that the Unemployment 'Board' 'was-; the only body whichhad. full information to guide it and its decision should be accepted; the Mayor' had given his assurance that Lower Hutt would be better off. Councillor A. Anderson said that in the absence, of any information from St. Kilda to show that its workers were I being injured he- could not support its protest. -■•■'-;■■' ■'■•■■ Councillor Wilsoh!s amendment was lost. Councillors Wilson, Napier, and Ginger voted for it, and the Mayor and Councillors Ashton,- Mitchell, Anderson, and Ginger against it. A further amendment by Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor- Ginger, "That St. Kilda be asked to show how its workers were affected, and that a cony of the Mayor's statement be sent to St. Kilda," was.also lost, and the iMayor's motion, that; the .letter from St. Kilda be "received," was : carried.