Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, APRIL 14th., 1934, BRIGHTER PROSPECTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 April 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, APRIL 14th., 1934, BRIGHTER PROSPECTS.

ABLE GRAMS published this week have indicated an almost world-wide improvement in national affairs, financially. The British Budgefi showed a net surplus of over £31,000,000. the largest for

some years, with revenue records broken in several directions, while

there was an accompanying decrease in unemployment, the figures being the best since 1930. South Africa reported a striking recovery, the surplus amounting to £4,500.000, after the liquidation of the accumulated deficit. In both the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, the revenue exceeded the expenditure. The position has also improved in New South Wales, and

increases are announced in unemployment relief pay and allowances. It may be expected that the improved state of affairs overseas will have satisfactory repercussions, so far as New Zealand is concerned, and, altogether, there appears to be ground for the hope that the long-deferred “turning of the corner” is now within measurable distance of becoming an accomplished fact. The Dominion registration figures, with regard to unemployment, show a slight decrease, the

total as at March 17 being 41,407, compared with 41,896 on February 17. This number includes 4,549 men on the registers who are unplaced or ineligible for unemployment relief, for various reasons. Those receiving relief totalled 36,858, compared with 37,676 on February 17. The men on the registers whose relief wages are supplemented to full-time employment total 3529, and those receiving part-time relief under the No. 5 scheme number 33,072. It is estimated, that 11,300 men. on relief were employed on developmental.and reproductive work calculated to benefit the Dominion ’s primary industries. The number of workers 'engaged in industrial undertakings whose earnings are subsidised from the Unemployment Board’s funds also shows a decrease, from 26,722 on I February 17 to 25,410 on the same date in March. Of these, gold-miners [ and prospectors under the No. 5 scheme total 3,414. The full total is 66,817, which is 1801 less than the total for the previous month. The Unemployment Board has a difficult task, but it appears to be doing its best to carry it out successfully, and it is significant that the criticism being directed upon the heads of the Board members is now much less than was the case twelve months ago. District relief committees have also had a difficult, and somewhat 'thankless, task, and the good work accomplished reflects the greatest credit upon those who have given their time and energy to the con-j duct of these organisations. Thei Mayor’s Relief of Distress Commit-

; tee at Greymouth is a case in point, and the figures for the past year’s operations, published in the “Star,” this week, were illuminating. The amount received from the Unemployment Board was £5,403 17/7, which was subsidised by the Greymouth Borough Council to the extent of £1,190/10/2, with an additional £975/15/2 from the Mayor’s Fund, thus making the total subsidy £2,166/15/4, or approximately 40 per cent, of the amount received from the Board, and increasing the average earnings of the unemployed to more than the standard rate under the No. 5 scheme. As the Mayor (Mr. J. AV. Greenslade) has pointed out, it is realised that the number of

days worked still leaves the men only a small amount with which to provide for themselves and their families, but their position would have been -worse without the assistance provided locally. Efforts to, secure an increased allocation from the Unemployment Board have, unfortunately, been unsuccessful, it

being claimed that Greymouth is receiving its proportionate share. With the near approach of Winter, the applications for assistance may be expected to increase, and the Mayor has indicated that another appeal to the public will be necessary, to provide funds to enable the committee to continue its opera-

tions. The necessity for such an appeal is regrettable, but, as on past occasions, the public generally will doubtless contribute as gener-

ously as possible, depending upon the committee, to ensure that the funds continue to be expended wisely.