CHICKENS HOME TO ROOST

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 June 1935, Page 6

CHICKENS HOME TO ROOST

UNEMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION SUSTENANCE RATES INHUMAN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) OAMARU, June 13. A vigorous protest was made to-night by the Oamaru Borough Council against the action of the Unemployment Board in putting local unemployed men on sustenance at a rate 3s less than that received on relief work. All councillors joined in the protest, it being contended that the smaller towns were penalised in the relief rates compared with cities and of £50,000 collected in unemployed taxation in the Oamaru district only £14,000 was spent in the district, so that over £30,000 went from Oamaru to help other people’s unemployed. The board, it was alleged, was accumulating funds at Wellington at the expense of the smaller towns and' the men had. a genuine grievance. Many would be thrown on the relief depot. The Mayor, Mr M. P. Cooney, endorsed fully the remarks of councillors and stated the action of the Government in placing men on sustenance at a lower rate was not only unfair but inhuman because it was putting men off at that time of the year when it was impossible to get other work. Mt Forbes had stated that the men were not going to receive pay without work but the policy of the board had been reversed. The Government had bungled the question of unemployment and the chickens were now coming home to roost. Ho thought it cowardly for the Government to throw the responsibility on to local bodies. The Government should accept responsibility.