Unemployment in Palmerston North

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5614, 31 March 1931, Page 8

Unemployment in Palmerston North

DELIBERATIONS OF COMMITTEE

The Palmerston North Unemployment Committee met yesterday morning, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., presiding. Also present were Messrs A. J. Graham, D. Collis, J. Batehelar, A. E. Mansford, J. Hodgons and J. Lowdcn. In answer to Mr. Batehelar Mr. Nash stated that in regard to farmers thero was no provision to aid those who could not afford to pay their hands and who at the same time could not carry on without such aid. Mr. Batehelar: A number have asked mo about this, and I thought that perhaps the Act would make, some provision for such cases. Has this side of the position been studied by those who drew up the legislation? Subsidy on contemplated drainage ■works” by the Manawatu A. and P. Association was refused under the No. 5A scheme on the grounds that the society could not be classed as a local body. Mr. Hodgens questioned this ruling, stating that such differences should be waived in view of the fact that the Act was drawn up with the sole purpose of providing work. Mr. Batehelar: We should send a recommendation expressing our views on this differentiation.

On the motion of Mr. Hodgens it was decided to refer the matter to the board asking for a favourable interpretation of the question. Mr. Lowdcn stated that the works arranged for at the Boys’ and Girls ’ High Schools and the Technical School had been.sanctioned by the board after the committees of the schools had sent direct to the governing body. Mr .Lowden outlined the principles of a scheme in operation in Feilding by which the authorities were given with the least inconvenience possible the respective times of the workers employed. This system relieved the tedious work of the certifying officer and he desired that the committee afford this excellent scheme due consideration. He thought that this scheme could be practised by the committee in keeping a check on the operations of the local bodies under the jurisdiction of the committee.

Mr. Lowden stated that the unchecked roll number was 172, four more than last week’s recording. The number employed on casual work was officially set down at 862, but the actual figures would, be in excess of 900. A number had secured private work, but this aggregate covered those who had been given work and paid. The better outlook amongst the farmers had "hardened things up,’’ and had certainly restricted the drift from country to town.