RELIEF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1935, Page 11

RELIEF WORK

POSITION AT MASTERTON

BETTER THAN LAST WINTER

(Special to the "Evening Post.") ■' MASTERTON, This Day. A decrease in the number of men registered as unemployed in Masterton is recorded, there being about 30 less than in June of last year. At present there are very few tradesmen doing relief work. The Unemployment Board's building subsidy schemes have absorbed practically all the carpenters, painters, and plumbers formerly engaged on relief work. From the end of October until about two months ago, there had been a steady falling-off in the numbers of men seeking work under the various relief schemes. With the tailing out of seasonal work, however, the position : was reversed and registrations began to increase until they now total about 360, as compared with about 390 at the corresponding period last year. The registrations are now regarded as having reached their peak, and it is unlikely that they will show any material increase for the remainder of the winter. Recently the Masterton County Council closed down" on all its unemployment works with the exception of the two single men's camps at Blairlogie and Stronvar. For the week ending June 8 there were' 82 men accommodated in the two camps. At the corresponding date last year there were 104 men in three camps, Blairlogie, Stronvar, and Wangaehu. In addition to those men, the council was also employing 13 men on road work's and 56 at full-time standard fates of pay, and 66 were engaged under the farm scheme, a total of 135. The number of relief workers employed by the Masterton Borough Council has remained fairly constant during the past twelve months. Last week, the total stood at 140, as compared with 144 for the corresponding period last year. The work of improving the surface of the Hood Aerodrome, which is being carried but under the supervision of the Public Works Department, has absorbed a good proportion of the men formerly engaged by the County Council, while the introduction of sustenance payments also accounted for a number. The number of men employed at the aerodrome fluctuates from week to week. For the week ended June 8 work was found for 96 men, while this week the figures are round about 80. They have, however, been up as high as 111. The men are engaged under the cooperative contract system, each gang being allotted a certain area of ground to cover, and they: are stated to be earning wages well in excess of average relief rates. At present there are 39 men receiving sustenance payments in lieu of relief work in Masterton. ' ' Practically the whole of the Masterton quota of 249 pairs of double blankets has been issued to relief workers, while the third issue of boots is now proceeding. The building subsidy" schemes have had the effect of diverting many tradesmen into channels of employment, and applications by private individuals for . subsidies are. being constantly received? at the local Labour Bureau. Non-stofit-earning: societies and-associations may benefit under the scheme. Generally speaking, the unemployment position locally has shown some improvement over the past twelve months, and while the figures may seem higfi at the moment, they should in ordinary course begin to. decline again in August or September, ■ \. , .'-. ....■■.. ■ • .