PURELY RELIEF BASIS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 4

PURELY RELIEF BASIS

DOMINION PUBLIC WORKS WAGE CUT UP TO 20 PER CENT. REDUCTION IN GRADING BASIS. ADVANTAGE OF FULL WEEK (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.! WELLINGTON, May 24. A move in the direction of turning the whole of the Public Works undertakings in New Zealand on to a purely relief basis lias been made by effecting wage reductions of up to 20 per cent., according to an official announcement made to-day. This action is in accordance with the policy outlined by the Minister of Public Works, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in his statement to the House of Representatives on March 1 that expenditure on Public Works out of borrowed money would have to be reduced to about a quarter of the amount spent last year. The basic wage for all unskilled workers in the department will be reduced by 20 per cent. —from 12s 6d a day to 10s a day—thus placing them on the same footing as relief workers as far as actual pay for the day’s work was concerned. They will, however, receive different treatment in that they will be provided with a full week’s work irrespective of whether they a.e married or single. Proportionate reductions will be made among skilled and semi-skilled workers, but in this instance the present system of grading will be retained. Reductions will he made on the basis of the man’s grading, and although the wage cuts may vary it is l understood they will in no instance he over 20 pier cent. Co-operative workers will also suffer reductions and piece work rates will be cut in proportion, so that these men will receive propotionately the sarnj wage as before as compared with the others who will be subjected to reductions. CASE OF MEDICALLY UNFl'i AID BY HOSPITAL BOARDS WELLINGTON, May 24 Hospital boards throughout New Zealand are vitally interested in a decision by the Unemployment Boa "I that they will be expected to provide i -dief for men certified is medi:aly unfit, for heavy work and who are unable to go to camps or. who cannot do heavy work under the No. 5 scheme.

Some hospital hoards thought chat when the Unemployment Vmeudmenf Act of last session became operatve they would be relieved of the -miden of providing for registered unempn yea, all of whom would be provided for out of the funds of the Unemployment Board.

It was stated officially to-1 ly that the Unemployment Board felt :t could not assist men who were certified as medically unfit for work available. _ If a man could not do the work offering the board’s funds would not permit payments being made to him.

BISHOP’S ADDRESS TO SYNOD WELLINGTON, May 24. In his presidential address toLfay in opening the synod of the Wellington diocese of the Church of England, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Sprott dealt at lengthy with the economic difficulties the coun-* try has been called upon to face. After eulogising the extent to which private generosity had been forthcoming to meet the pressing needs of the unemployed and expressing the opinion that the need for this form of benevolence will not pass away during the coming winter the bishop said spine people thought, and might still think, the scheme adopted by the Government to meet the situation was by no means the best possible. They might be more or less right. The Government was not infallible and the problem was the most complicated with which any New Zealand Government had. ever been faced. “I do not myself, however, propose to entertain you with any alternative scheme of my own,” continued the bishop. “I have always thought, and still .think, the formulation of schemes L the proper duty of the Government. The Government alone has access, to all the relevant facts, and it can avail itself of the best expert knowledge. Above all the Government alone has power to give effect to whatever scheme it finally adepts. It must therefore formulate its schemes with a vastly greater sense of responsibility than can possibly be left by the private theoriser, who amid all his theorising is subconsciously aware that he will never be challenged to put his scheme to proof. “It seems to be our duty without further criticism, of which perl laps there has been enough, loyally to assist the Government in carrying out its programme. If there are flaws inherent in it they will manifest themselves in ' l >e working, and can perhaps be reme”od. We must remember that no scheme, however perfectly formulated, bv the New Zealand Government can vhollv amend the situation which, how--vev much our own past negligence and extravagance have been contributory causes, and assuredly- they have been, is largely due to causes lying outside Yew Zealand and over which we have vo control. The most we' can do is to alleviate’; we cannot wliollv cure.” After denouncing violence the -bishop vaid they must not allow their svmnathies for the deserving to be chilled '-v the recent disturbances. At the same time law and order must be upheld. and no effort should be spared - relieve the genuine distress of the people.