No Protest

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7460, 10 May 1934, Page 6

No Protest

Pohaagina Not in Sympathy With City COUNTY COUNCIL’S VIEW OF SUSTENANCE The protest against the introduction of sustenance payments by the Unemployment Board, instigated by th« public. meeting held in Palmerston North recently, did not find much in the way of support'at yesterday’s meeting ol the Pohanginn County Council. The County Council tvns in receipt of a lengthy communication from the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr. A. E. Mansford) which conveyed the text of the resolution carried n't the public meeting and giving other aspects of the sit nation. “Is there any statement available from the Unemployment Board in regard to their finances?’’ asked Cr. TV. Howell. The chairman (Cr. S. Strahan): It is reported that they are supposed to have a lot of money iu hand. Or. Howell: VVc arc Somewhat in the dark unless we know the Unemployment Board has only a- certain amount of funds available. We know that, if we ask for increases, it is the taxpayer who has to find the money. The chairman: It looks as if we arc Icing asked to support Palmerston North’s resolution on the blind. We are not employing any of these men end it is the counties and cities who are getting considerable benefit- from this labour, who arc protesting. It. is a matter of finding these men profitable work and useful work is pretty well cut, out. T think the board is making a step in the right direction when it is striving to get more profitable work done.

Cr. Howell: Havo we any work to offer so that these men can be got into the country ? The chairman: The sustcn&nce is ccrtninly going to be hard on the men and 1 know there are many deserving cases. The trouble is to get them to leave the towns. Onco they are settled in the country they seem satisfied. Cr. Howell thought there should be no reduction in the monthly earnings of the men. They could not live decently on the reduced wago aud it was only justified if the Unemployment Board was short of money. (],.. \\\ T. Pratt thought the men would be better kept at work. Or. J. Mackenzie moved that tne letter be received and Cr. Pratt second-

er. Howell moved as an amendment, but could find no seconder, that the sustenance reduction be viewed with concern and the Palmerston North protest be supported. He said that if the men affected became a charge on charitable aid, the local bodies who were finding this money would be heavily mulcted. The chairman observed that the tax* payer was pretty sick of finding these moneys. Cr. Howell: We would not like to see the unemployed driven to starvation, and especially the women and children. The letter was received.