RELIEF WORKS LOANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 11

RELIEF WORKS LOANS.

POWERS OF LOCAL BODIES. ANOTHER YEAR'S EXTENSION. NO CHANGES IN THE ACT. [Br TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. A further year's lease of lifo is to be given to the Act which gives local authorities tho light to borrow moneys for providing relief works for the unemployed without taking a poll of ratepayers. This measure, known as tho Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Act, was first passed in 1926 and was duo to oxpire on June 30, 1927. It has been extended each year and normally would expiro next Monday. However, after disposing of tho Imprest Supply Act in tho early hours of this morning, a bill to extend tho period to Juno 30, 1931, was brought down and passed through all stages before the House rose. In reply to tho Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, tho Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, said tho clauses were the same as those in the bill of last year. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) asked whether it would not be possible for tho Government to subsidise material as well as wages on a 50 per cent, basis. If this were done tho Government would get greater co-operation from the local bodies. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier) asked whether harbour boards could be brought within the scope of the bill. Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour —Wellington North) also supported the plea for the inclusion of harbour boards, stating that tho Wellington board was quite prepared to undertake work which would do much to alleviate the position in the city. In reply tho Primo Minister said that if tho Government were to subsidise material as well as labour it might as well uso tho money itself to provide' work. Tho Government wanted tho money to reach tho unemployed and not be spent on material. He was strongly against subsidising jobs in which 80 per cent, of tho money was used for material. Mr. Sullivan: Wo don't suggest a percentage as high as that. The Prime Minister said the Government hoped to bring down later a measure which would put the problem in a better position. He realised tho difficulties of tho cities, but hoped that tho proposed bill would meet the situation that had arisen. He did not think that harbour boards should be subsidised as they were trading concerns, charging dues on the ships entering the port.

RELIEF WORKERS' WAGES. AVERAGE RETURN TO MEN. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. [BT telegraph.— special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. For wages, housing and general expenses an average of £350 a year was paid to men on Government relief works during the past 12 months, according to a statement made by the Minister of Lands, the lion. E. A. Ransom, when speaking during tho Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives this morning. Tho Minister said he had taken the actual expenditure on relief works and tho average number of men employed to arrive at that figure. Surely that could not be regarded as an unsatisfactory return to the men'! Mr. H. E. Holland, of the Labour Party, with a trace of incredulity: What does that sum comprise? Mr. Ransom: Wages, housing, transport and other general expenses. Tho actual amount necessary for the maintenance of these men. It has been suggested that relief workers have to pay 25s a week for rent, but the majority of the married men do not pay rent at all. Incidentally the Minister denied that the accommodation at the relief camps was not adequate. He had visited many camps and while he would not say no complaints had been made to him there had been no complaints of a major kind.