CAMPS FOR UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20969, 4 September 1931, Page 10

CAMPS FOR UNEMPLOYED

OVER TWENTY SELECTED. ESTABLISHMENT SHORTLY. WORK FOR 1000 SINGLE MEN. MINISTER OUTLINES SCHEME. [BY TELEGB API!. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 ] WELLINGTON. Thursday. A statement regarding the scheme for unemployment relief champs for single men was made by the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour, in tho House of Representatives this evening. He stated that just over 20 camps had been selected already. Tho camps would accommodate from 25 to 80 men each and a sufficient number would be selected to provide for the 1000 men arranged for with the Main Highways Board. The men would be selected mainly from cities and larger centres in the first place and instructions as to their selection were to be issued to the centres concerned immediately. It was hoped that operations in some of the camps would be begun next week. The men would be provided with plajn food and simple tent accommodation, also a certain amount of pocket-money, which would average about 10s a man a yreek. This was very similar to the basis on which scheme No. 4A is now operated. Payments, however, would bo on a basis of efforts. Some men might receive a little more than 10s, whereas others might not earn quite as much as that amount. The tents would have to be shared, probably by two men in each. In the event of tho camps being operated successfully it was hoped that developmental work on land might also be undertaken along similar lines. Indeed, one large block in the North Auckland district, which would be cut up into 27 soctions, had been selected already for experiment in this way, and a camp would be established there within a few days. The workers in that camp would be utilised to prepare necessary access roads to subdivisions and would continue developmental work on the sections themselves, should that be found practicable. Some of the workers, if they so desired, would no doubt have an opportunity of participating in the ballot for selection when the stage for actual settlement had been reached.

CITY COUNCIL WORKS. THE MONEY HANDICAP. EXTENSION EFFORTS VAIN. The City Council's policy respecting unemployment relief works was briefly discussed at its meeting last evening, when suggestions were made for enlarging the scope of operations. No action, however, was taken. The matter was raised by Mr. E. J. Phelan, who asked whether the council could not undertake larger and more productive works with the unemployed labour available, and so benefit the men and the ratepayers more than at present. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, said the Unemployment Board's weekly allocation .of money was fully used. In some weeks it had been necessary to put men off because the allocation was less than usual. Mr. Phelan: We do not apply for it. The Mayor: In some weeks it has been cut down to £950, next week it has been brought up again. We have had to reduce the week's work by half a day all round sometimes. These fluctuations mean that the city engineer cannot control the position adequately. The chairman of the Works Committee, Mr. H. P. Burton, said that in four months the cost to the council for supervision, material and transport had been £2400. If work was to be continued at the present rate the council would have to face further sacrifices. Mr. Phelan: What about bodies like Mount Albert and Mount Wellington ? Mr. Burton: We are .doing our utmost to meet the position. We have tried to get a larger allocation, but the finances are embarrassed. In reply to Miss E. Melville, the Mayor said that of 692 men employed at present only 61 were not city residents. Instructions had been given that when any of thesa 61 dropped out they were to be replaced by others with homes in the city. Mr. J. Roberton asked whether the council could not bo furnished with a return showing the works being done and the number of bien employed on each. The Mayor replied that there was no objection to this, but the present Works Committee, on taking office, had visited all the jobs and was satisfied that they all were of permanent value. Mr. Robertson : I have no doubt of that, but perhaps we could undertake larger schemes.

The Mayor: We tried to get a variation of, the terms, but were not successful There are several large jobs that could be done in the city, but the expenditure on items other than labour would be too heavy for uis under the present conditions.

RELIEF OF DISTRESS. ACTIVITIES AT OTAHUHU. A scheme to assist the unemployed workers in growing their own produce was adopted at a meeting of the Otahuhu Social Service Association this week. It is proposed to supply unemployed residents with seed potatoes and other seeds and plants to encourage them to cultivate the spare parts of their own or adjoining sections. A special committee has been set up and it is hoped to have the scheme operating within the next few weeks. It was reported that since the opening of the Clothing Depot a few weeks ago 120 families had received parcels of clothing providing for the needs of over 400 children. The stocks of clothing are approaching exhaustion and it is proposed to replenish these from funds availablo from recent benefit entertainments. The proceeds of the three latest functions exceeded £2O. The secretary reported that 33 families had been sssisted during the past month, the grants being given in groceries and fuel. FORMER IMPERIAL SOLDIERS. » CANTEEN FUND GRANT URGED. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Thursday. The executive of the Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association this evening decided to ask those in charge of the Canteen Fund to allocate portion of the fund to assist former Imperial soldiers who were unemployed in the Waikato. It was stated that one-third of the unemployed ex-soldiers in the district had seen service in the Imperial Forces and at present no provision was made for them in the administration of the fund.