UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 April 1931, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

WORKING OF RELIEF SCHEMES With the object of discussing with Mr. W. E. Leadley, the R.S.A. representative on the Unemployment Boaid, a meeting of the Grey District Unemployment Relief Committee was held last evening. Messrs P. J. McLean (Chairman), J. Higgins, G. W. Sampson, W. Fisher, W. Ogilvie, and the Secretary, Mr. T. G. Davis were present. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. W. Greenslade. Mr. Leadley said it was the wish of the Unemployment Board that he visit 'the Local Committees in order to discuss with the members any difficulties which they might be experiencing in connection with the working of the relief schemes. He expressed appreciation of the great work done by all the committees on the West Coast. He reviewed the difficulties which had beset the Board at first, and said it had been intended tha_t the Unemployment Board’s work should not commence until six months after the formation of the Board, gnd it -was thought that during that period the members would be able to ddvise machinery to deal with the unemployment problem. However, there was such a great demand for relief from all over the country /that the Board had to set about instituting schemes immediately.’ They began with the No. 1 Scheme, which amounted to the provision of materials and labour for local bodies to provide work for the unemployed. About £36,000 had been spent on that scheme. The No. 2 Scheme was then drafted, and by this scheme a £1 for £1 subsidy was paid to local bodies on labour on-j-r On this scheme, about £32,000 was spent. The No. 3 Scheme was begun before Christmas to provide work for those not receiving relief under the No. 2 Scheme. It was really in the nature of a Christmas gift. The schemes now in use were the No. 4A, the No. 48, and the No. 4C. Scheme No. 4A had been designed for reproductive work on the land, and the present time arrangements had been made for about 2,200 men to work under that scheme. 1 Most of the men were young, and it was confidently expected that the majority of them would remain on the land after the scheme ceased operation. • No. 4B Scheme was for contract work on farms but it had not been received very enthusiastically by the farming community in the South Island. The object of the scheme was to let contracts for bush-felling, or for any other purpose, which would bring hitherto unproductive work into use. The Board paid 33 1-3 per cent of the contract price with a limit of £75 for any one contract. Thus under the scheme a contract to the extent of £225 could be let. The No. 5 Scheme was designed to work through local bodies only, and was really an alternative to paving a sustenance. At one time there were’ 27,000 men throughout the country employed under the scheme, but as the scheme developed, the number of registrations of unemployed rose to 38,000. Undoubtedly, many persons who were really not entitled to any benefit', had taken advantage of the scheme. The Board saw that there was no alternative but to order a cessation of work under Scheme 5 for fourteen days in order to have the whole scheme reviewed, even though the stoppage meant the infliction of hardship on some. The new rules had now been formed, and it was expected that all not entitled to aid would be now eliminated.

Mr. Leadley then emphasised the necessity for' commencing secondary industries in the Dominion. He referred to the large number of skilled workers, shop assistants, warehousemen, and clerks, who had registered, and said the question now before the Board was how to get those men back to their respective callings.

A general discussion took place regarding the closing down of sawmills. Numerous questions were asked and answered satisfactorily. It was Mr. Leadley’s view that no timber should be admitted to the Dominion from other industries, and that all State buildings of wood should be built entirely of New Zealand timber. He exhorted all sections of the community to institute throughout the land a campaign for the use of only New Zealand made goods. Gold prospecting was also discussed, and members generally considered that it should be git - en every encouragement.

CHCH. TRAMWAYMEN. CHRISTCHURCH, April 22. A reduced new wage cut and altered conditions, representing a cut in the aggregate, of 11 per cent, in the wages of employees of the Christchurch Tramway Board, will come into operation on May 11. In the meantime, every employee oi the Board affected by the alterations will receive notice of the termination of his employment and will be .invited to apply by April 30 for re-employ-ment under the new conditions. Hie new proposals are calculated to save the Board £10,740 a year. The unions, who are meantime keeping their own counsel, state that the cut really amounts to a twenty per centreduction in the men’s . earnings. FREE LABOUR ON FARMS. PALMERSTONNORTH, April 22. The Dairy Farmers’ Union to-day decided to forward the Unemployment Board a suggestion that a scheme be evolved whereby the farmers cduld secure free labour, the same as the local bodies were getting under number five scheme. It was contended that men would be better producing than pick and shovelling on roads and footpaths. The meeting also joined in the protest against lifting the embargo on the importation of live stock.

ARAPUNI STOPPAGE. AUCKLAND, April 22. The Arapuni Branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union resolved to-day that the Arapuni workers should terminate their agreement, following on the announcement of the reduced scale of wages. This was done at 4 p.m. This evening a notice was posted in the village, and bearing the signature of the Secretary of the Union, which declared all underground work “black.” As the work on which the tunnellers are engaged is essential to the restoration of Arapuni, a delicate situation has arisen, and all acquainted with Labour matters are well aware.of the effect of the job being declared “black.” WATERSIDERS’ GRIEVANCE WELLINGTON, April 23. A complaint that the waterside workers were not obtaining the benefits they were entitled to under the Unemployment Act, was made to the Labour Minister to-day by a deputa-

tion of representatives of the Waterside Union. The speakers denounced the Vet as inadequate. They considered that it should be repealed, and replaced by legislation which would cope with the position, but until this was done the watersiders who paid the levy were entitled to the provisions set out in the existing measure. The Minister stated that he fully sympathised with the waterside workers, and would investigate the representations made.