FREE BONUS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1935, Page 5

FREE BONUS FOR UNEMPLOYED

NO WORK IN RETURN REQUIRED INCREASE IN PRESENT SCALE OF PRIVATE EARNINGS, (By Telegraph —Press Association.) WBIJLINiGTON, This 'Day. Interviewed, to-day, the .Minister of Unemployment (Hon. S. (1. Smith) referring to his recent announcement tliut as from July Ist Scheme •". and sustenance weekly relief rates would Ibc increased by 2s for single men, and 3s for married men, stated that owing to the varying conditions in many parts of the Dominion, the Board has decided to convert this increase as from July Ist into' a free bonus for which work in return will not be required. The bonus will be paid to every relief worker who is, or becomes eligible, for and received rationed relief work or sustenance under Scheme 5. A large number of men had already worked extra time in order to qualify for payment of the increase, and such men would, within the next few weeks, be | granted pay without work for a period I equivalent to the extra time so worked. The Minister stated that previously where the working time did not fit evenly into the half days, employing authorities were permitted at their discretion to arrange for the men to work to the nearest half day below their allocation. The Board has now decided that this concession can generally be adopted by local bodies. The Board has also decided to increase the present scale of private earnings or other private income allowable, iby allowing a worker to earn from private sources a further 5s per week before any reduction is made in his relief allocations.