UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21099, 5 February 1932, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

REORGANISATION URGED. CENTRAL AUTHORITY PLAN. WORK IN HOME DISTRICTS. PREVENTION OF OVERLAPPING. Complete reorganisation of the administration of unemployment relief by local bodies in Auckland, making each local body responsible for finding work for the residents of its own district and creating a metropolitan committee, with levying powers to dispense assistance, was suggested in a report submitted to the City,/ Council last, evening by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison.

Mr. Hutchison said that, as a palliative, nothing better had been suggested than the No. b scheme, by which, coupled with the splendid efforts of social organisations, the unemployed of Auckland had at least been kept from starvation. The fact remained, however, that many were bereft of normal comforts of life, and many were unable to meet their financial obligations in tho form of rent, rates, interest and other charges upon their homes. Ho was compelled to admit that no improvement in these conditions could be looked for in the financial year ending March 31. 1933. / Separate Districts Scheme. Six suggestions were made by the Mayor for reorganising the system. These were:— (I). Unemployment registry districts should be fixed by tho boundaries of local bodies, so that each should definitely be charged with the care of its own unemployed, registry bureaux to be allotted accordingly. "1 regard this as imperative," Mr. Hutchison said, "because we have some boroughs declining to carry the No. 5 scheme further, and contiguous local bodies must not be expected to absorb these men as well as their own."

So, far as the City Council was concerned, having regard for tho necessity for preserving the income-earning capacity of its rateable property, particularly dwellings, all permanent employees occupying houses upon short tenancies outside the city, should be given three months' notice to find accommodation within tho city. No unemployed labour chould be engaged from outside the city ai ea.

(2). The Hospital Board should bo supported in its application to be relieved from the dispensing of unemployment relief. This should be handled by a committee for the whole metropolitan area, appointed from the local bodies, the Labour Department and the social organisations, the necessary authority to levy, up to a specified percentage of the rateable income of each local body, to be obtained. Social Relief Work. (3). A central unemployment relief registry, with branch offices provided ■with' telephones, should be established under the auspices of the committee, and the whole of the recognised social organisations, where applicants for sustenance must register, thu3 entirely eliminating overlapping. No social organisation should bo recognised unless it is approved by a majority vote of the committee, and it should be made an offence for any person, or body of persons, company or incorporated society, to appeal for, or collect, funds, clothes, or goods for charitable purposes, or to hold any entertainment for such, unless authorised by the cpmmittee. An official badge of authority to be issued to authorised collectors.

The City Council should permit seven street collections during the year, grant free use of the Town Hall or concert chamber, public reserves, Municipal Band, or other services at its disposal as may be required to raise funds for the comjuittee, which should organise large public entertainments to augment its funds. This scheme should not- prohibit or restrict any existing organisation or religious body from continuing to assist, from its own funds or contributions not publicly solicited, any persons not on the central unemployment relief registry. Supplementary Activities.

(4). No. 5 scheme should ho supplemented by the committee by work centres, market gardening schemes, and tlid like House-to-housa canvassing should be prohibited, except by persons authorised by the committee, authority to be in the form of at) official badge. Classes for the training of canvassers should be held, and business firms invited to employ the committee's authorised canvassers for the sale of their goods, British only. (sj. The assistance of independent persons should be solicited in organising and supervising the activities adopted from time to time by the committee, thus helping those less fortunately placed than themselves through a most difficult time.

(b). Strong representations should bo made to the Government to bring into early operation its comprehensive plan for the absorption of the unemployed, thus confining the No. 5 scheme to the purpose for, which it was originally designed, namely, as a mere palliative, and not a permanent method of employment. Tliq Mayor said that, while his report, clid not cover Ihe whole problem, it would lemove some of the disabilities. "1 fully anticipate that there are interests that will Strenuously oppose some (if my suggest ions," he added. "1 regard my own and the council's responsibility to give a lead in this nmttei so seriously that, so far as its functions will peimit, I conEider the cr.uncil Ims (he right to adopt and maintain a definilo policy, deemed to ,accord with the majority view of the citizens, and calculated to confer the gicatest benefit on those in need." Early Action Proposed.

I think the best thanks of the citizens and the council are due to the Mayor for his valuable report." said the deputymayor. Mr. A. J. Enlrican. "1 am sure the suggestions made will meet with hearty approval." He moved that the report be referred to the finance committee. J"his was seconded bv Mr. M. J. Bennett.

(r. Grev Campbell said many of the proposals made were long overdue. One of these was t lie co ordinal ion of 1 lie social organisations, and if I lie suggestions were adopted they would lie of general benefit. It was decided that the finance committee should submit its report to a special meeting of the council next Thursday evening and that the clause, relating to the Government's plan bp, brought under the notice of the Cabinet at once.

The Mayor said he had been asked to convene a conference of the Mayors and chairmen of the suburban local bodies so that tho whole position could be considered., b«t lie preferred that the council should first define a policy so that it ■would have something definite to submit to the representatives of those bodies. This procedure was approved by the pouncil.