EXTRA 12,250,000

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 May 1936, Page 4

EXTRA 12,250,000

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF ANNOUNCEMENT BY CABINET REPLY TO DEPUTATION (By Telegrap.'i—Press Association) ’ WELLINGTON, This Day. The announcement that Cabinet had sanctioned approximately £2,250,000 in addition to the ord;n= ary revenue from unemployment taxation, to be devoted to the relief of unemployment, was made by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, when replying to a de= putation from the Rational Unem* ployed Workers’ Movement yester* day. A member of the deputation complained that although prior to the election tiio Labour Tarty had protested against the- “means test”, yet relief workers were still required to fill in forms. Mr Armstrong replied that many objectionable questions had been removed from the two-monthly form, and the half-yearly form was to be modified. The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, said there had to be some check on a man’s statement. Replying to another member of the deputation, Mr Savage said sustenance rates would be increased from Ist June and after that they would be increased again as soon ns it was humanly possible to make financial arrangements. Members of f he deputation said there was a move to establish c. club so that unemployed, and particularly old men, should not have to wander about the streets It was their intention to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs for assistance.

The deputation also protested against compulsory camps. Mr Savage said if a man would not do a job under reasonable conditions he could not get sustenance. There was no justification for bad conditions. Mr Armstrong said lie had condemned camps when men were sent to work at ten shillings a week. That was stopped when the Labour Government came in He said the only camp where a low rate was paid was at Parap-uraumu, when the men received 17s 6d a week and were kept. Ho wanted to close it down, but it was mainly composed of returned soldiers who strenuously objected Ihe men were gradually being placed in public works. AVERAGE INCREASE Mr Armstrong said it was untrue that the increase was ss. Everybody bad been brought up to the level of rebel workers in the city, and they were going to be put un again. A married man with a large'family in the city bad received an increase of 13s, and m the country the increase was 19s a week. The average increase would be move like 11s 6d than ss. He added that with adjustment regarding the limit of private earnings hundreds had been brought within the scope of the Act. Prior to the present Government coming info office relief workers had not received all the benefit of unemployment taxation, but now they were receiving more than it brought in, and lie was coin" to receive £2,250.000. Surely that was a pretty big thing. There were some people who wanted as lugn sustem slice allowance as possible, and they never wanted to get off sustenance. STANDARD CONDITIONS > REVISED SCALES The new and increased Scheme 5 and sustenance scales of relief decided upon bv the Government are to come into operation as from Ist June. The new rates, a summary of which has already been published, are to apply to Europeans and Maoris alike 1 The revised scales are to apply to the following classes of workers:— . (a) All men employed for their ordinary ration of relief under Scheme No 5. (b) All men in receipt of or eligible for sustenance. r ( c ) Men employed under Scheme and granted extra time and extra pay bv the employing authority but not- sufficient to bring their total employment up to forty hours per week. (dl Clerical and other workers employed by local bodies, charitable organisations, etc., for their ordinary ration of relief only. ... . Those to whom the new scales w:J. not apply are the following: (a) Those men employed full-time forty hours or more with a subsidy from t.ie Unemployment Fund. (b) 'Clerical and other workers employed by local bodies, charitable organisations, etc., who are granted pay in

excess of their ordinary ration of relict If in any case the total remuneration ot the worker is less than the revised Scheme 5 rate, particulars of such case ave to be referred to the Employment 1 1vision of the Department of Labour fci consideration. (c) Men employed under Scheme 5 on the eradication of ragwort and othei noxious weeds. . (d) Musicians employed in accordance with the provisions of Circular 0/20/1. The present subsidy will apply. The co-operation of local employing authorities is sought in the matter ol providing workers with additional assistance from their own funds sufficient to meet the difference in wages cost to enable all the men to be given employment to the nearest half-day above the actual time factor covered by the new On the introduction of the new rates of pay the work on which relief workers are employed, whether on au intermittent basis or not, is to be regarded as standard woik under ordinary industrial conditions, and work for the amount provided in the scale is to be performed in full on the basis of 2s per hour for both single arid married men. If, however, the existing award rate is more than 2s per hour, then the award rate must he paid. This will apply to both intermittent work and full-time employment where a subsidy is provided from the Employment Promotion Fund In tlie case cf subsidised works, the Department is prepared, on application from local bodies, tc review the presen: rate of subsidy. Time lest through wet weather or sickness may be made up during the two weeks folfowng that in which it was lost. QUALIFICATION FOR RELIEF It shall be a first condition qualifying an applicant for relief from the Ein;i!oymerit Promotion Fund that he »hnll he without contract of employment having lost his employment through no fault of ins own. and shall be aide md wiilm-i lo work. The applicant must present himself for employment whether for intern. it tent work or for work or. the basis of a 40-hour week carrying the standard j minimum wage of >2s per hour, and re- ■ fiisal to a.■cent same when offered, with- j out reasonable excuse, will,, except by ( direction of the Minuter, disqunlitv tho ( eonlie-' t for f -- nail period as j he maintains his attitude. I •'•■■.li --.(-st •■», i - --tt.tt. in receipt of I relief and unable, for any reason, to ac- ]

cept employment must not be suspended from relief but full particulars of such cases are to be reported for decision by the Unemployment Division. REVIEW OF WORKS Prior approval is to be obtained in respect of all works undertaken by local employing authorities either by means of a special subsidy from the Employment Promotion Fund or by tlie usual financial assistance" available through the I medium of Scheme No. 5. It is the intention that an officer of the Department shall ;n the near future call on the employing authorities concerned and review all works at present under way. After examining the various works in operation ,and hearing representations of the employing authority, an indication will be given as to whether such works can proceed and under what condition. Pending this review all current works are to be deemed .o be approved works. In his circular notifying the certifying officers and employing authorities ■>f the new policy, the secretary of the Unemployment Division /Mr .T. S. Hunter) that he lias been instructed by the Minister to say that the decisioii ro revert as quickly as possible tc standard conditions in no way minimises the Government’s appreciation of the splen. did assistance rendered hv local bodies and other employing authorities in giving effect to the policy it is now discontinuing. “The Government’s desire,” ■he acids, “is that in giving effect to tlie new policy it can be assured of their full and ready co-operation ” NEW RELIEF SCALES As a result of the increase in the relief scales as from Ist June, consideration has been given by tlie Employment Division of tlie Department of Labour to the amount of private earnings, or income, that a relief, worker may receive before bis ration of relief is adversely affected. The following table sets out the revised total allowable income (including relief) for each conjugal classification :

Class. £ s. d. A, single man 2 0 0 B, .married, with wife onlv-... 3 0 0 <\ marri'-’d 1 3 0 0 D, married, 2 children 3 0 0 E, married, 3 children 3 2 0 1‘, married, 4 children 3 6 0 ti, married, 5 children 3 10 0 H, married, 6 children 3 14 0 I, married, 7 or n ote children 3 18 0