RELIEF WORKERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 12

RELIEF WORKERS

COST OF INSURANCE

RELIEF FOR LOCAL BODIES.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. From October 1 the Unemployment Board had decided to take over the cost of insurance for relief workers, according to a statement by the Act-ing-Minister of Employment. “For some time past local bodies throughout New Zealand have been complaining to tho Unemployment Board ot the cost of carrying tho different charges relating to relief workers under their care, such as those of insurance, tools, transport, and supervision,” said Hon. A. Hamilton. “This problem has become very acute in the capital city. In order to give local bodies a measure of relief, tho board has now decided to take over the insurance cost. This employers’ liability' has always been carried by tho Public Works Department. Subject to the necessary confirmations, the Unemployment Board will from October 1 accept this liability. Arrangements will be made for the State Fire Insurance, which has offered to assist the board at a nominal cost, to determine the amount of compensation due to any injured relief worker. The board freely acknowledges the valuable assistance given it by local bodies in handling the unemployed problem and the measure of help thus given will enable these local bodies more freely to continue their assistance to the board in the administration of tho relief funds.”

WORK AT WELLINGTON,

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. The Wellington City Council to-night agreed to the Unemployment Board’s proposal to continue relief work on the present scale from now until the end of the year. The scheme involves finding £IO,OOO by the council which will come from the funds of the electricity department of the council. In announcing the proposal, the Mayor said the Commissioner of Unemployment stated it was realised that the position of Wellington was quite exceptional in that the city had been required to carry an undue proportion of the unemployed. The city will undertake the expenses of relief employment for the first 2000 men and the hoard will find the cost up to £IO,OOO for men in excess of that number ns well as finding the insurance for the whole number. The total number of unemployed is at present over 4000.