UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 21010, 26 January 1932, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

In view of complaints made by men working under the Unemployment Board’s scheme No. 5, the local Unemployment Committee desires to make known the following facts: — * The committee has no means of raising money, the only funds at its disposal being those supplied by the board from Wellington, which has laid down definite rules regarding expenditure for relief, and has fixed the maximum amount of refund of wages under No. 5 scheme at 9s per day for single men and 12s 6d per day for married men. An amount is allotted to this district only from week to week, and this is always insufficient to give the full quota of work allowable under the rules. THE DEPUTATION QUESTION. At the meeting of the Unemployment Committee this morning reference was made to the statement in a letter by Mr F. Jones, M.P., that when an attempt was made by the unemployed men to interview the committee prior to the riot the majority of the members ran away. The committee states that the letter written by Mr Jones gives an impression which is misleading and contrary to fact. The committee intimated to the men that it was prepared to receive a deputation on one condition, but, instead of the offer being accepted, the whole of the men invaded the room. The chairman, who,, with others, remained in the room, waited for some time and explained to Mr Ballantyne why the committee would not receive him. The committee had received many deputations, and at no time adopts a policy of standing aloof.