WORK AT STANDARD WAGE

Evening Star, Issue 22136, 17 September 1935, Page 11

WORK AT STANDARD WAGE

MO RESPONSE FROM UNEMPLOYED BOARD'S DIFFICULTIES [From Our Parliarertarv Reporter.] . WELLINGTON, September 17. The practical steps taken by the Un* employment Board to reabsorb men in permanent occupations were detailed to the Rotary Club by Mr Bromley, deputy-chairman, who incidentally gave extraordinary examples of th«> difficulty experienced in starting men on public works at standard wages. In a substantial North Island town, he said, arrangements were completed for public works at standard wages, the immediate requirement being fon 30 men, and extending within eight weeks to over 200 men. As the board was anxious to try out the theory that it was better to invite men to accept these jobs than to offer them individually and thus class then as voluntarily unemployed if they refused, notices were placed which all unemployed could see. and he had reason to believ* that every man in the district knew of the requirement. “ But up to date oiu» application has been received, whilst eight others have made cautious inquiries, but so far have not offered t» accept the employment.” Another instance happened recently in a North Island town where, in response to an application *for a wages subsidy towards the cost of ground improvements, the board had approved >f a subsidy of 30s weekly in respect i.f each married man taken from th» register and employed at standard rates for not less than 40 hours weekly. The responsible authority later advised the board that a tender had been accepted which they considered mor« advantageous than to accept the proffered subsidy for the engagement of men from the unemployed register, and the successful tenderer refused to recruit the men from the unemployed register. Mr Bromley added that a recent survey revealed that, of a total of 40,000 unemployed, it was estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 would he difficult to place in any kind of 'employment.