THE UNEMPLOYED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 118, 20 April 1931, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED

NEW REGULATIONS OPERATE. MEN TO RE-REGISTER. A meeting of the Unemployment Committee was held this morning when Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., occupied the chair. Others present were Messrs Graham, Mansford, Hodgens, Watson, Batchclar, Collis and Lowdcn (secretary). Mr P. J. Small, a member of the Unemployment Beard, Wellington, was also in attendance. Tho secretary reported that he had received a copy of the new regulations regarding tho 4a and 4b schomes with reference to youths between 18 and 19 years. “I tako it,” added tho secretary, “that it does not mean opening the door to every youth, but rather to those with family obligations such as a widowed mother, etc.” Mr Graham: Apparently it means everyone.

Mr Small: Special provision has been made by the board for youths between 18 and 19 years; there arc 27,000 of this ago in tho Dominion. . Mr Lowdcn: There is the danger of cheap labour and tho youth being preferred to the man.

Mr Small: It is better that they do something. After all, it is only a temporary measure. , Mr Graham: We will have to treat every caso on its merits. Mr Lowden: While tho new regulations also apply to the 4b scheme, there are restrictions against the employment of relatives by applicants tinder tho scheme. Several applications under the 4a schemo have been received, but one is not in order, there being a discrepancy in tho amount tho employer is prepared to pay and the amount expected by tho employee who has signed tho form as being prepared to undertake tho work. Whereas tho farmer offers 5s per week and board, to which tho subsidy of 15s will bo added, the employee apparently expects 15s from tho farmer and a subsidy of £l. Mr Mansford: Should not the applicants bo made conversant with tho conditions when they are handed tho forms? We will have these cases cropping up again. It would bo bettor if the application was checked when taken, in, and if not in order tho form should bo sent immediately back to the employer. Weeks of delay may be entailed otherwise.

Mr Hodgens: Are there no minimum wages paid? Mr Lowden: In cases of extreme hardship there may be no actual payment provided tho man is. kept. Mr Small: There was a case in Wanganui where an applicant offered to find work for eight men, a bonus to bo paid to tho men on tho work done. The men were prepared to go for the sake of the subsidy and keep, but I consider every employer should pay something. The 18s paid to single men will not keep them in town. PERMANENT COMMITTEES.

A letter from the Unemployment Board asked that all the unemployment committees be made of a permanent nature. Mr Small: There is no fault to bo found with this committee for all the local bodies appear to be represented. However, there are instances where tho relations of members on some of tho committees liavo not been conducive to tho happy working of the schemes. Mr Graham: I will drop out after the city elections, much as I would like to continue my association with the committee. Mr Lowden: Wo could elect Mr Graham to the committee after he retires from the mayoral chair. Mr Hodgens: There were members on this committee long before the Government commenced to operate. Mr Small: This committee appears to be quite a sound one and should be permanently elected. On the secretary mentioning that he had prepared his estimate for the first week in May as required by the board in Wellington, the chairman pointed out that there was every prospect that the numbers of unemployed would grow during the winter and he considered that the board should bo advised to that effect. The board was aware of tho . amount of its income and was endeavouring to work out its commitments. It would be consequently advisablo to inform the board that the committee's monetary requirements would be greater in future. ... The secretary, in mentioning that ponding the checking up ■ of the roll no return of tho unemployed had been prepared, again stressed tho necessity for the men to immediately re-register to enable them to securd work. The speaker mentioned that the onus of so doing was on the men and, unless sucli had been done, they would have to be stood down for 14 days. Mr Small: The men from Foxton, Tokomaru and the other outlying districts have not to come in here to register have they ? The Secretary: No, the postmasters irt those areas accept tho registrations and send in a weekly return to me. Some of the works which have furnished employment have now been finished and it will bo necessary to ascertain from the local bodies what work they have in hand and what men they will bo requiring in the fU On°tho suggestion of tho chairman, the secretary was authorised to circularise the local bodies to ascertain tho required particulars. , , , Tho secretary asked for a ruling in connection with tho appointment of one of the unemployed men to act as foreman on certain jobs," tho speaker explaining that in some cases the gangs did not have direct supervision. . . Mr Small: It would bo auite in order for one man to be on the job all the time in the capacity of foreman. Mt Hodgens: Is not tho foreman usually a permanent employee of the local body ? Tho Secretary: My remark applied more particularly to education jobs.