RELIEF RATES OF PAY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1935, Page 7

RELIEF RATES OF PAY

POSITION OF SINGLE GiRLS MINISTER REBUKES WOMAN DEP UT ATION ’ S REQUESTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. April 29. A deputation representing the unemployed waited on the Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, this morning urging an increase of 10s a week in relief pay and the placing of unemployed girls on the same basis as single unemployed men with regard to wages.

During the speeches, one member of the deputation, Mrs Penny, said single gills in every city in New Zealand were not being given a fair deal. 51 any were being driven oil to the streets. The Minister: ‘‘You must not say that; stick to what you know at Christchurch and don’t cast stigmas on centres that have "done their duty by single girls and protected them.” Mrs Penny replied that she had been at Wellington and Dunedin and maintained that what she said was correct.

After other speakers had been heard the Minister promised that lie would make a personal investigation of all the complaints. • He hinted, however, that if the request for a general increase of 10s a week was granted the Unemployment Board’s funds would be washed out in five months. The Christchurch Unemployment Committee at a meeting to-day decided to ask the Unemployment Board to consider an increase in the bonus to be paid to relief workers in certain categories as part of the celebration of the King’s jubilee. The request agreed upon was that the Government be asked to provide a bonus of one. month’s' pay instead of one week’s pay.

Some members questioned whether the board had the money to meet the request, which would cost more than £200,030. However, there was no vote against the proposal.