UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Grey River Argus, 8 February 1940, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Idle Grey Valley Miners

WORK BEING FOUND ON PUBLIC WORKS. There is no immediate prospect of a resumption of either the Dobson or Wallsend mines, and arrangements are now being made for the payment of the Social Security Unemployment Benefit to the idle miners. Yesterday afternoon, a start was made by six members of the Social Security Department, at Greymouth, in registering the men for the benefit under the Social Security Act and also under the State Placement Service. These officers proceeded to Wallsend, where by arrangement with the Miners’ Unions the men are being registered. The work of registration will be resumed to-day at the Wallsend Hall and Brunner Public Library. About 380 men will be eligible for registration. Under the Unemployment. Benefit, single men will, receive £1 per week and married ,men an additional 15s for their w'fe and 5s for each child. It is understood that the first payments of the benefit will be made at the end of this week or at the beginning of next week.

As the men are being registered as unemployed under the __ State Placement Service, they will be available for Public Works jobs as they become vacant. It is stated that a batch of single men will proceed to Bruce Bay in South Westland, and married men will be placed on the Buller Gorge Railway construction works.

State Mines

OFFICIALS ELECTED. Results of the ballot conducted by the State Miners’ Union for the annual election of officials, were annouced yesterday by the returning officer as follows: — Secretary-Treasurer: . J. Guy 20(elected), F. Baxendale 71, T. Walker 54 J. Burns 36; informal 11. Check Inspector (Liverpool Mme): F. Baxendale 263 (elected) J. Musgrave 141; informal 17. Deputy Check Inspector (Liverpool Mine): J. Medlin 303 (elected', D. Campbell 97; informal 22. Check Inspector (James Mine): S Finn 218 (elected), A. Sparks 175; informal 29. Check Inspector (Strongman Mine): T. Gray 227 (elected), JBurns 167; informal 29. Committee of Five: F. Cntchley 312 A Fisher 292, J'. Timlin 291, A. Coppersmith 286, W. Simpson 279 (elected); S. ’O’Neill 251. J. Pmer, 188; informal 28. ' Hall Caretaker: E. Maddison 211, J. Winstanley 145, G. Long 45; informal 25. All other officials were elected unopposed.

Cessnock Stoppage

■ OWNERS CLOSE NEATH MINE. SYDNEY, February 7. The Neath Colliery, near Cessnock, has been called because of the combined Mining Unions’ irritation tactics, and will not reopen until these tactics are abandoned. This move may be followed by similar individual action by other coal-owners, whose patience has also been exhausted by recent events.