WORK IN COUNTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1933, Page 8

WORK IN COUNTRY

t t » ' . . ' '> \r. U SMALL CAMPS PROPOSED

PROPOSALS OF MINISTER

WELLINGTON, May 20

* ‘Th ere is a prospect •of profitable employment in the -country 'districts for a considerable number of unemploy-: ed from the city,” said ths.Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton,, yesteraay. ‘‘lt is essential,’ however,: that if we are to get the men to take up the class of country work offering: .vo must have the assistance not' only of the business men and the local bodies, hut the men themselves.” Mr Hamilton said that on his recent short tour of the North lie had been: impressed with the scope for placing groups of men on work improving portions of main roads by easing grades and removing (difficult bends. There were also innumerable works of the : kind on many of the backbloeks roads. : Although lie had not completed his inquiries, the scheme he had in mind was that by with the Public Works Department small groups of men, probably about 12, could be put, on a section of. road. He was now looking into a proposal to erect buildings, which would provide comfortable sleeping quarters for a dcv T <m men, with- a kitchen and a dining room under the. one. roof.. ■ • ,

The 'proposal Was that_the Unemploy-' mont Board should contribute a jpOrtdon of' the pty bn the present recognised scale, and this should be ‘supplemented by the Public Works Department so;’that--the men would be’ able to earn 10s a day.- This would be' full-' time emp’oyment. Payment would be on the piece-work system based on the 10s a day rate, enabling the men to' earn £3 a week. That this was possible was shown by the ’survey recently, made of the earnings of meii in similar camps. • Over a' lengthy period ; the average earning in most of 1 the camps was £3 a week, While in only one instance 1 kwas the average below £2 Tbs: This survey had also shown that the’ cost of food for these men had aver-"' aged 0s v a Week, and this would be their only outgoing, as no relit would be'eharged for quarters. It was pointed out by the Minister that these rates were more then Those earned by relief workers under the. Np: 5 scheme, and he hoped that, when.' he was able to complete arrangements there would be a good response from married unemployed in Auckland. li would not be possible to guarantee TO, a day, but it could he accepted tha*t the men would he able to earn that wage. ' ‘-f

Referring to his earlier statement .that,.it. ivas.„,intended to ..revive. vth.e building subsidy or No. 10 scheme this winter, the Minister said the, purpose was tfi stimulate the building industry which, when operating normally, was responsible for the payment of a very large wages bill. The scheme would be on a different basis from that in operation last year, as previous experience had revealed several difficulties, par-, ticularly in regard to the small ‘ contractor. The board would endeavour to overcome these before announcing the details.