SUSTENANCE RATES

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 95, 3 December 1936, Page 4

SUSTENANCE RATES

INCREASES OF 6/- AND 3/- A WEEK WELLINGTON, November 3(). The Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) revealed to-day that the recently-approved increases in sustenance rates were 3/- a week for single men and 6/- for married men. The increases operate from to-day. After commenting on the efforts made by the Government in its public works programme and its inducements to local bodies to begin largo undertakings, and also the success of the placement scheme in placing more than 15,000 men in private employment, the Afinister added that the Government expects able-bodied mon who are offered work at standard rates and reasonable conditions to accept such offers, failing which they will be regarded as voluntarily unemployed, and therefore undeserving of Government assistance in any shape. A Christmas bonus of £1 for women and single men, and £2 for married mon will be granted to those who qualify for relief or assistance in the week ending on December 5. Two weeks’ holiday will be granted in respect of the weeks ending Decembed 26 and January 2 to those who would normally be , entitled to relief during those weeks, under the headings of men in receipt of sustenance or employed under scheme No. 5, and gold prospectors under scheme No. 15, including those on developmental work, but excluding those employed for 40 hours or more at standard rates. Where men are engaged by local authorities for full time at standard lates the usual subsidy will be paid in respect of the two weeks, provided 1 the local authority grants the holiday j and pays its proportion. Where scheme ! No. 5 wages are supplemented by the | local authority to at least the nearest [ half-day above the weekly allocation, j the usual subsidy will be provided dur- ' ing the period, irrespective of whether the local authority is prepared to sup- i plement the pay of the men. The Minister gave a definite - warn- ' j ing that drastic action would be taken against those guilty of misrepresent:!• 1 tion to secure relief benefits, of which j some cases were still occurring.