New Rules for Unemployed

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 211, 7 September 1936, Page 5

New Rules for Unemployed

BOARD’S BID TO PUT END TO PRESENT ABUSES

LONDON. New regulations have been devised for the Unemployment Assistance Board to put an end to anomalies aud abuses existing at preesnt under the “Standstill” Act. In making this announcement in the first report of tho board, Lord Rushcliffe, its chairman, recalls that the board’s original regulations, which came into forco in Januray last year, were nullified by tho subsequent passing of -the “Standstill” Act —the Unemployment Assistance (Temporary Provisions Act)— following a storm of protest against reductions. Under the “Standstill” Act an applicant had to be paid either an allowance according to tho regulations or a sum equal to the transitional payments ho would have received from his local authority—whichever was the higher. “Tho effect of this,” adds Lord Rushcliffe, “has been to continue many of tho anomalies and abuses which the board was created to abolish. “The proposed revised regulations have been devised to end these unsatisfactory and-temporary arrangements.” “There are disquieting signs that the closo correspondence between wages and allowances is influencing some applicants of the board,” state Lord! Rushcliffe. “The number of younger men, many of whom have never had a regular job since ldaving school, who refuse to avail themselves of our special training opportunities is.causing much concern. ‘ ‘ Similarly, many of the younger women without prospect of employment in their homo area havo shown themselves unwilling to take employment elsewhere. “Tihcro are cases of married men with families whoso allowances aro practically tho same as tho earnings they would normally gain. “They find tho allowances sufficient for their purpose, with the result that they show litte disposition to take work or to hold it when it is given to them.”

The report contains many examples of public money granted to households who aro quite well off.