BACK T0 WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 3 September 1934, Page 3

BACK T 0 WORK

FULL TIME AND WAGES I : NE M 1 ’LO YMENT HOARD’S AIM DEI*UTV-CIIAIRMAN AT BLENHEIM Owing to the shortness of the notice only a limited mnnher of local bouy representatives —uieinbers and official.-. — were present at the Blenheim Municipal Chameci's to meet Air \\. Bromley, the deputy.chairman of the Unemployment Buaru, who is making an oliiciat visit to Marlborough (says the '‘Express’ ). However, an interesting and usetul two' hours passed in more or less informal discussion of various aspects of the relief work problem in this district. It was clearly apparent that those present * appreciated the opportunity of nearing tne visitor’s explanations on a variety oi points o* local and national importance in connection with unemployment, Mr Bromley’s complete grip of his subject being very impressive. His Worship the Mayor (Air At. AlcKenzie), who presided, cordially welcoined i\£ 1* Bromley, him thjt the local bc'dies of' Marlborough, at any late, appreciated the work of the ployment Board in complimenting the visitor upon his appointment as deputychairman of the Board, the Aluyoi lemarkecl that he had known Air Bromley tor some time and felt sure that lie was the right man in the right place. It was lone' time since lie had been to Blenheim,°aud it was hoped that much good would come out of his visit. (Applause.) SEEKING INFORMATION In appreciatively acknowledging the reception, Air Bromley declared that ho was not here to make speeches about what the Board was doing and proposed to do. “I am simply wanting to find out how the unemployment schemes are working here —scheme 5, in particular.” he explained. “Scheme sis the scheme that \s giving the Boar; most worry at the; present time. It is contested in Parliament regularly—and not without some truth, no doubt that iust so long as this free Inborn is available so long will we be unable to get out of our difficulties. It is sometimes contested unfairly, at least I have heard the general statement made, that local bodies arc ‘sponging’ on the Unemployment Fund. What that ciitic failed to iodise is that the local bodies ar e helping us to solve a problem, even if they are getting some return, and only anxietv is to ensure that there is a proper balance in the matter. Any local body using relief labour,to cany out maintenance work that it ought o do out of ordinary funds is, however, creating difficulties and not helping us, because it is tending to continue the system for all time.” STANDARD TIME AND PAY Air Bromley stated that the Board was willing to assist any local body, as it was the Blenheim Borough Council, to do a work that it would not carry out under ordinary conditions, but it was anxious to see the unemployed back at work as soon as possible under industrial conditions. “It is pleasing to know that approximately 40 per cent, of the registered unemployed, or those who are getting assistance from the Fund, are working full time under ordinary standard fulltime conditions,” the speaker proceeded. ‘ AA'e would rather sometimes give more out of the fund provided we can get men back again to normal working conditions, for that is the pmy thing that is gbing to help the business community and the country. There is quite an enthusiastic move in some parts for this at the piesent time. “In the larger cities, of course, My Bromley explained, “we have had to resort ’to sustenance payments without work as an alternative _to maintenance work. We are doiim that because we think it the best way out of it. So we are striving to get full time on the one hand if possible, and sustenance rather than maintenance work on the other hand; but if we could get them all on full time work at something like standard wages with the assistance we can give out of the Fund tjiat would be the best course to adopt.” LOCAL BODIES’ DUTY Alost of the men here were engaged on a fairly large undertaking by the Borough Council, which was costing the Council, along with the Board, a lot of money, the speaker continued. This was the type of job the Board was glad to see put in hand. “What I am anxious £o hear from you is how you view the thing down here,” Mr Bromley added; “whether you are collecting the same views about the matter as we are;' whether you are of the opinion that the local bodies, in some instances, have rather got into the'habit of free labour instead of getting the habit of trying to abolish scheme 5 at the earliest possible moment.” After explaining that, as he had not gone into the local position lately, his remarks should not be taken as directed against any local body represented there. Mr Bromley proceeded: “Just in general terms, I may say that I find it rs necessary all the time to keep inpressing upon the local bodies where their duty lies.” He recalled going to a certain city where he found two bridges being painted. He tliought it was a fine thing for the local body to. be finding work for tradesmen like that until he discovered that they were relief workers on their ordinary allocations and relief rates'of pay. r ' That was very soon stopped, and, as a result of a compromise, the Board and city council subsidised the job to have it carried out as a full time, standard wage alfair.

From this point, Mr Bromley encouraged a round table discussion on a variety of matters touching unemployman.