BELIEF RATES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 75, 10 March 1933, Page 8

BELIEF RATES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —An article appeared recently drawing public attention to the amount of money the relief workers are now receiving. 1 would like to make it a bit plainer still. The wage of the relief worker last year at this time was 12/6 per day as against 11/- per dav now. Further, their allotted times were as follow: First, second and third weeks, four days' work; fourth week, stand down; amour/ing to £7 10/- per four weeks, as against the present allotment of three days per week, at 10/-, amounting to £6. I will give an idea of how this is affecting the families. On one job there were six men who receive £1 10/- per week. The dependents to be fed and clothed from this amount number 41, including the men themselves. Now, six men at 30/equals £9, and 41 to be fed for one week on £9 means that each meal is to cost 2fd. Even then, it would be necessary to get their luel for nothing. The same thing applies to other classes. Three-day men are receiving only £1 per week, a« against £1 8/11 last year. 1 understand that the local Unemployment Committee took a stand at its last meeting, and a letter was sent to the Minister of Unemployment, pointing out the extreme hardships the reduction is causing. This was a fortnight ago, and evidently no notice bas been taken. Now, 1 think it is time the business men of the town put their shoulders to the wheel, as there is no doubt of one fact —that this last reduction of 10/- per week per man means to business people another £3OO per week, just the amount that may be stopping them also from becoming relief workers. On the higher amounts as stated, we had the flood Cheer Department, and cheap meat, firewood, etc. At present there is nothing, and further than that, the actual cost of living lias advanced since last year. 1 trust that these few plain facts will be the means of our business men and leading citizens following the example of other cities and towns of relieving this acute position some way or othe —Yours etc., RELIEF WORKER. Hastings, 9/3/33.