THE NEW DOLE

Grey River Argus, 5 May 1932, Page 5

THE NEW DOLE

• NO UNIFORMITY Minister Questioned AN INDEFINITE REPLY. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, May 4. Relief pay and conditions were referred to in the House to-day, when the following question was asked by Mr Barnard: — (1) To what extent, and on what principles, the Government intends to apply the new scale of payments to relief workers which involve the abolition of the stand-down week. ,(2) Whether the Unemployment Board will consult appropriate Unemployment Committees before substituting, in any district, the new scale and conditions for those which obtain under the No. 5 scheme?

(3) Whether, in places where the new scale of payments is made operative, the Unemployment Board will make, provision for food, clothing, etc., in cases where such payments arc insufficient to furnish the relief worker and his dependents, if any, with the necessaries of life, including shelter? (4) What arrangements, if any, the Unemployment Board is making with the Hospital Boards for the purpose of giving effect to Section 14 of the Unemployment Amendment Act, 1932 (relating to the utilisation of the Unemployment Fund for the purchase of food, clothing, or other necessities) ?

Mr Barnard, in a note of explanation, said that it was understood that the new scale of payments would replace the scale of the No. 5 Scheme, but the Unemployment Board had indicated that that was not generally intended. A complaint had already been made by the Chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board that, through the present retention of the standdown week, the Hospital Board had been compelled to distribute relief, in spite of the fact that such relief was intended to be undertaken by the Unemployment Board in the terms of the Unemployment Amendment Act, 1932.

4 ‘The new scale of relief and the abolition of the stand-down week are being put into effect at the present time,” replied Mr Coates, “but the revised scheme is not being applied or. severely uniform lines in all places; and, already, modifications, to suit special local needs, have been agreed to. We will gladly consider suggestions that Local Unemployment Committees may put forward as to the conditions in their respective areas. Generally, the main cities and their neighbouring borough are first putting -the now scale into effect, with, perhaps, local variations. The scale of relief will provide for family requirements according to needs, and, as already announced, payment in kind —that is, orders for necessaries will be made, as required. Hospital Boards are carrying on in the period of transition, and I am confident that, as the new arrangements, which we have well in hand, are completed they will be freed from the necessity of providing for the able-bodied unemployed.” Mr Jordon pressed for a definite statement concerning the inauguration of the new relief rates. He said that it was reported that there were men who were not being employed this week, and he asked the Minister to say, definitely, when the new rates of pay could be given.

The Minister said that the now scale of pay would be introduced gradually, and it could not be applied at once. The matter of arranging work and time schedules was being attended to, and the plan was being pushed forward.

Mr Jordan: The only thing definite is the tax! Mr Coates: The hon. member had nothing but fault to find with the new scale, and now he cannot have it put into effect quickly enough. I cannot understand him.

RELIEF OR ADVERTISEMENT MONEY? Replying to Rev. Mr Carr’s question on a big advertisement that appears in the morning paper here appealing te farmers to offer land for unemployment, Mr Coates said this advertisement had, of course, been paid for from the public funds. Mr Howard: The unemployment fund? Mr Coates: That is, of course, a public, fund. Advertisement space has been secured at a specially low rate, and the estimate of £5O is very wide of the mark. It will be inserted in a number of other papers, but these will b< limited. Some provincial papers, however, will have to have it, and, in addition, posters will be displayed in various public places. Mr McKeen: It is a waste of money! Mr Coates (hotly): Exactly! Everything that is dond is a waste of money. In the minds of the Opposition, it is always piling up costs; but my scheme will be a success in spite of my Labour friends.