UNEMPLOYMENT

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1933, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

MARRIED MEN’S CAMPS Board’s Intention TO CONSIDER MERITS OF CASES. (pe r Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 12. Official inquiries made to-day indicate that although the Unemployment Board is anxious to fill various relief camps, there is no intention of dealing harshly with married men, whoso circumstances are such as to cause hardship for them if they leave home. It was pointed out that, in many eases, exemptions had already boon granted, and other cases will bo considered on their merits. It, was stated that men will bo able to do a full month’s work in two or throe weeks, returning home, for the remainder of the month, and enabling them to earn extra, money during their absence from camp, without tho disability respecting relief work. A WEEK’S RESPITE. (’TIRTSTUIIURGIT, June 12. After spending all yesterday in negotiations, Afayor Sullivan, by consent of th.' Minister of Emlloyment. secured a respite of one week regard" ing the compulsory orders that an additional fifty married men. as well as those who have volunteered should go to camp at Ashley to-morrow. In the meantime, no penalty will be iniposed on those refusing. An endeavour will be made to secure enough labour voluntarily, so relieving the necessity for compulsion. Building Subsidy MR JESSEP IN DEFENCE. (Per Press Association). BLENHEIM, June M. An important reference was made bv Mr J. S. Jessei", deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, to tho new building subsidy scheme in replying to criticism levelled at it. In doing so he did not mince matter.-,, nut staunchly defended the move as one designed to assist an industry which, he asserted, had been adversely affected probably more than any other single Lranclr of business in the Dominion by the depression. lie eon tended that the action taken by the board “was more than justified by cir eumstances.

There is no trade worse oft at present than the building industry,’’ he said. “It is nearly dead. It is estimated that, not per cent. —a liberal estimate would lie 20 per cent., but reliable men say lb per cent. —of the men formerly’engaged in the building trr.de arc in work in tho trade to“day. Taking it at 20 per cent, wo have 80 per cent, of the tradesmen idle. The board, after a lot of thought, decided that from our point of view there was no trade that we could attempt to stimulate, no trade that, would relieve pressure on the unemployment, funds more, and f want to stress that point and would induce men who have funds to spend to start spending them now in the building trade. Some criticism has been levelled at the scheme from this point of view, that we are going to put money into tho pockets of men who can well afford to put up a building. | crimps a big building. Well, that is not our. point oi. view. Wo really are asking the assistance of any man who has money to spend it now. After all labour on it building, a big- building particularly, is a small part of the total expenditure.’’ Mr Jessep said that the building scheme was not the only one under which the board was subsidising heavilj- in order to get the men on to useful work. “Under Scheme IB,’’ he pointed out, “we are asking assistance of any man of m'eans and I say that quite distinctly. I don’t, care if ho is the wealthiest man or institution in New Zealand. If he will do develol mental work of any description which under ordinary economic conditions would not be done, we will pay 50 per cent, of the cost. That applies to the drainage of lands, bush-felling, scrub-clearing and so on. We welcome the man who will pay his 50 per cent. We can stand up to all tho criticism; that comes along. We may indirectly be assisting the man with .money, but otherwise he is not going to do the work. We are, in fact, very willing to find our 50 per cent, and we consider it some of the best type of work we are doing in New Zealand to-day.’’

Relief Fund A EENEFICIENT ACTION. 1 CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 12. The fund being raised for relief of distress in Christchurch by a committee of businessmen has now reached £4,868 5s 7d. An anonymous benefactor has undertaken to look after twenty families for tho winter. The families which were allotted to him by the Secretary contain 173 children.