Cannot Subsidise Workers’ Wages

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 10

Cannot Subsidise Workers’ Wages

MINISTER REPLIES TO BUILDER3' UNION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. "I sincerely regret to learn that, owing to broken time, tho income of so many workers has fallen below tho basic wage and would willingly assist in the direction indicated in your letter if it were advisable to do so," states the Minister of Employment, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in replying to recent suggestions made by the Auckland Builders and General Labourers' Union that the earnings of casual workers should bo supplemented from the unemployment fund to bring them up to the level ot the basic wage of £3 16s. It was pointed out to tho Ministei that members of the union had suffered hardship in recent weeks owing to lengthy spells of inclement weather. "1 can assure you that the matter has received very earnest consideration, and I regret it does not appear to be practicable to increase the present maximum allowable income or to vary provisions for tho adjustment of relief as set ou£ in tho current regulations," added the Minister." The principal reason for fixing a maximum before relief allocutions are affected is to provide a deterrent to over-ready acceptance of relief assistance. If the maximum wore appreciably raised there would be little or no encouragement for workers to sock full-time employment, and in fact, when it is remembered that under scheme No. 5 provision is made for payment for time lost on account of sickness and of wet weather, thero would often be an actual inducement for men to prefer relief work schemes and conditions. "It should bo noted in this connection that thero is no actual limit set to a worker’s earnings, except provision for a reduction in his relief allocation when his private income exceeds a certain maximum. In other words the Btate‘s responsibility becomes automatically loss as the worker’s economic opportunities increase and it is surely tho Government's duty to provide an incentive for men to seek and obtain private employment. "Provision of eustenanco for waterside workers is at present being reviewed, and in view of tho agreement recently reached between tho employers and the New Zealand Federation of Watersido Workers, it is quite likely that certain changes will be cffoctod in the near future."