TEN SHILLINGS EXTRA

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1935, Page 10

TEN SHILLINGS EXTRA

RELIEF RATES OF PAY STRONGLY ADVOCATED. FULL STANDARD LATER. [Per Press Association. — Copyright.} CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The advocacy of an immediate increase in relief rates for all grades of work for unemployed of 10/- per week, and continuance of that increase until schemes are devised for the absorption of unemployed in works at standard rates of pay, was the principle of several decisions concerning unemployment reached at the annual conference of the Municipal Association yesterday. The subject was keenly debated. It was stated that the cost of giving increased pay of 10/- per week would be £300,000 per annum. It was also maintained, arf.d the assertion was generally endorsed, that the Unemployment Board should produce a statement of its expenditure, showing exactly how all its income was used. Resolutions were carried as follows: “That the executive be instructed to go into the whole question of improving the condition of the unemployed by a scheme or schemes for providing work at standard rates of pay, the scheme or schemes to be financed partly by local authorities and partly by the Unemployment Board, or in any other manner conceived, and that in the meantime the Unemployment Board be asked to increase the wages of all grades of workers by 10/- per week; that the Minister of Internal Affairs be urged to allocate the proceeds of art unions during winter months to the relief of distress; that this conference recommends to the Government that unemployed men who are ill, should on thg production of medical certificates, be supported from unemployment funds!” A remit suggesting that the Government should again be urged to abolish No. 5 Scheme and to use the money allocated for the scheme on reproductive avenues, ensuring full employment at standard rates of pay, was referred to the executive.