UNEMPLOYMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 November 1931, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

GREY DISTRICT COMMITTEE. The Grey District Unemployment Committee met yesterday afternoon; present, Air J. W. Greenslade (chairman), Archdeacon J. A. Jermyn, Messrs A. J. Fairmaid, F. L. Turley, J. Higgins, P. J- McLean, W. Fisher, W. T- Ogilvie, A. H. McKahe, and F. G- Davies (secretary).

It was reported that the Chairman, following a deputation of Blackball miners, requested the Secretary to communicate with the Commissioner at Wellington and ask for a special allocation, now the mine dispute in that district had been settled; also, that where men had not been able to pay the unemploymet levy, the amount be deducted from relief pay, but that it was important that all be given work. Following the representations made, the Unemployment Board had granted an increase in the allocation to Blackball of £lO4, making a total of £ll3 for each of the two next weeks. The Committee considered this very satisfactory.

It was reported that representations had also been made during the last few days in connection with the miners at Dobson, but that no finality had yet been reached, though the Commisioner had asked for further particulars. The Secretary was requested to communicate with the Unemployment Commissioner in connection with previous correspondence from the West Coast Farmers’ Union, pointing out that the improvement of Crown lands in this district was very important, as such lands could be made very productive. The Committee considered an application from the Brunner Collieries, Ltd., asking the Unemployment Board to'grant a loan for the purpose of extending a stone drive on what is known as the “Taylorville Fault.” — The Committee decided to recommend favourably the proposal to the Board, for the reason that such a scheme would find work for the unemployed, quite apart from opening up very valuable areas. GOLD PROSPECTING. Several applications were received for assistance in gold prospecting on the West Coast. The members were of the opinion that more discretionary powers should be granted the Committee to allow for small prospecting parties to undertake this work with

the minimum of delay. The rules for gold prospecting on the West Coast, under the No. 5 scheme, are as follow: — (1) All conditions regarding eligibility of applicants shall be in accordance with the general rules of Scheme No. 5. (2) Applications for assistance must embody a full description of the locality proposed to be prospected or developed, and, if possible, a plan should be supplied. Details of applicants’ experience must be given, together with their full names and coupon-book numbers. Applications will be received by any local Unemployment Committee and forwarded by them to the District Inspector of Factories, Greymouth. (3) The District Inspector of Fac-

tories, Greymouth, will make due enquiries regarding the character and experience of applicants and, if satisfied in all respects, may approve of work not extending in any case beyond a period of two months. If in any case a definite plan of prospecting or development is submitted which could not be completed within this period, the application must be referred to the Inspector of Mines and the approval of the Unemployment Board obtained. The same conditions will apply if it is desired to extend any approved application beyond the period specified. (4) In cases where applications are approved, applicants are required to provide all tools, camp equipment and other gear, also transport (if any). The Unemployment Board will make an allowance during the approved period of 15/- per week to single men or 30/- per week to married men. The Unemployment Board accepts no liability for compensation in case of accident or loss from any other cause, and approved applicants will be required to sign a declaration absolving the Board from liability in this respect.

(5) If any,prospector or party shall win any gold or other precious metals while operating under the provisions herein, such metals shall be the property of the prospector or party, provided, however, that if the value of such metals shall in any one week exceed £3 in value, no allowance will be paid by the Unemployment Board in respect of that week, and may be discontinued forthwith in the discretion of the District Inspector of Factories, Greymouth. A return of the total metals won each week shall be furnished by the prospector or party to the Inspector. (6) Any ofliver of the Labour Department or any other officer authorised in writing by the Commissioner of Unemployment shall have the right at any time to enter upon any workings under this scheme and to inspect any part thereof, and any metals woni and any records kept concerning the operations.

No funds will be specifically provided for this scheme and it is to be understood that any expenditure* involved is to be met out of the weekly allocations made for Scheme No. 5. 'DOBSON ALLOCATION. _ telegram received to-day by Mr Davies, stated that a supplementary allocation ol £lOO has been made for Dobson.

• DOMINION REGISTRATIONS. WELLINGTON, November 5. The total number of unemployed registered for the week which ended on November 2 was 50,284. Compared with the 50,266 registered a week earlier, this shows an increase of 18. ~ Ac^ ordin S to a return announced by ? \ n r lSt^ r in Char^e of Unemployment, Mr Coates, the number of those ,who were employed for part of their time under the Unemployment Board’s schem es was 36,758, an increase or 0.34 over (.he. previous week. The net number of those registered who were not placed in employment was 13,526 a decrease of 316 for the week. BOARD’S EXPENDITURE

[special to “stab.”] WELLINGTON, November 5 niA.f ret H rn fu ™ ished t 0 the House tonight, shows the amount expended on unemployment from the setting up of

/0/9 B ° aid t<o August The Board paid to local bodies the sum of £680,797/8/4. 1 Of £25,538/2/8 paid to farmers, the subsidy on labour supplied £23,253/ !7/9, was under 4A scheme, the balance being under 4B scheme. 4? the Board was shown £5,<68/14/0 for administration expenses and £2,646/0/7 as expenses of members, a total of £8,414/14/7. The total expenditure of the Board, including Government subsidy was £779,706/ 15/4.