RELIEF WORKERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12530, 16 April 1935, Page 5

RELIEF WORKERS

RIGHT OF APPEAL, DEFINITE PROMISES OF IMPROVEMENTS. WET DAYS TO BE PAID FOR. MINISTER UNDECIDED AS TO EXTRA GRANT. (Press Association). AUCKLAND, April 15. Two definite promises of improvements *in the conditions governing the treatment of relief workers and those op sustenance were made to a large deputation of unemployed by the recently appointed Minister of Employment (the fton, S. G. Smith) at the Town Hall. The Minister undertook that men on the unemployment register who had grievances against decisions by local officers of the Unemployment Board would be given the right of appeal and said that, after Easter, men, who attended a job on wet days would bo paid even if no work were done. He refused to commit himself to a grant of an extra 10s per week to unemployed in all categories, saying that there was not enough money, in the Unemployment Fund to do this. Referring to his promise to arrange for appeals by relief workers, the Minister said that his present thought was to arrange for any worker con- 1 corned and the officer of the board to go before a magistrate, in the privacy of the magistrate’s room and discuss the case. Asked whether he would also allow a representative of the association to which the appellant belonged to be present, tlic Minister said that lie would consider the point. He wanted to be fair.