UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

MEN WANTED FOR COUNTRY.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

AUCKLAND, October 28.

In order to ascertain the number of men eligible for country work, who can be sent to the various camps without inflicting hardships on themselves or their families, the Labour Department is carrying out a general “stocktaking” in the various Auckland districts where relief labour is employed. Men are being “called up” for medical examination in the first place, and if they are found fit for country work they are asked to give reasons as to why they should not be drafted to the country. If there are satisfactory reasons, they will be retained in the city or suburbs, but if hot they will be drafted to the country. A Labour official said that large numbers of men were required at present in the country for ragwort eradicating. Every man who could be sent to the country was needed. Preparatory work for the Government’s small farm scheme and the ordinary seasonal work were also increasing the demand for labour.

MORE WAGES—LESS WORK.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 28

Standard rates of wages, with a reduced time of working, are advocated by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), as a means of improving the general position of men on relief works. Mr Sullivan has been making representations 'to (the Government urging that the amount of time required from relief workers should be reduced and that the men should be paid standard rates of wages. He said that if the men were paid standard rates of wages to the extent of the funds that the Government had available, the men would not be oppressed with the present system. They would still be on short time, like many other people, but it would be only short time and would not have the demoralising characteristics involved in working for low wages. When Mr Sullivan raised the matter in the House on Friday morning he received an assurance from the Minister of Employment (Mr Adam Hamilton) that the proposal would be considered immediately, and something might be done in that way.

CARE OF YOUTH,

WELLINGTON, October 28.

Strong exception was taken by the Education Minister, Mr Masters, in an interview to-day, to the charge against the Government that boys have been deprived of educational facilities, and that they are not being provided with employment. He gave the statement an emphatic denial. Naturally, he said, it was not possible to grant any relief where hardship was not shown, but each case W’as dealt with on its merits, and in every instance sympathetic consideration was given by him personally. The Department’s efforts

in assisting to place boys and girls m situations had not been relaxed, and with wholehearted co-operation from teachers, valuable work was being done, and would be continued. In Wellington alone principals of post-prim-ary schools had placed 300 boys in employment this year. There were similar results in other parts of the Dominion. In conclusion, he said he thought the Government had been extremely liberal in meeting the situation by giving children many valuable concessions. Moreover, there was nothing to prevent them returning to school and continuing their studies until able to find employment.