GOVERNMENT WORKS.

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

GOVERNMENT WORKS.

ONE OFFICIAL FOR PROVINCE.

NEW SCHEME OF CONTROL,

WIDER TASK FOR MR. SLAUGHTER

An immediate reorganisation ol I lie administration of labour and unemployment matters in Ihe Auckland Province lias been ordered by Hie Government.

Telegraphic instructions were received from the Minister of Labour, the lion. A. Hamilton, by Mr. W. Slaughter, ollicer in charge of the Labour Department in Auckland, yesterday, that he was to take charge immediately of the organisation and allotment, of all relief work in the Auckland Province. Until recently, Mr. Slaughter was in control of relief work throughout the Auckland district, which extended from Maungaturoto to Mercer. Under the new instructions his control will be extended to include the \\ hangarei and Hamilton districts.

Discussing the position alter the receipt of the telegram yesterday, Mr. Slaughter said there was an officer of the department at Whangarei, and there was an office staff at Hamilton. "Work would bo carried on as ut present until ho had an opportunity of co-ordinating the administration in the three districts. He said he believed the object of the Government's decision was to give him greater scope in finding employment for city and other men in the country districts. WORK IN THE COUNTRY. LAUGE NUMBER ABSORBED. A denial that he had said that No. 5 scheme was the only present means of affording relief to the unemployed was given yesterday by Mr. W. Slaughter, officer in charge of tho Labour Department in Auckland. Mr. Slaughter said he had stated that No. 5 scheme was by no means the only method of affording relief. The present position was that in addition to No. 5 scheme, approximately 500 men were employed on useful work in relief camps in the country districts; 280 men were engaged on farms under No. 4a scheme; SO men, previously employed under No. 5 scheme by the Waitemata County Council, had been transferred to productive work on farms; and four gangs of men were working in the Franklin County quarrying road metal. Tho latter were on piece work and their wages were subsidised by the Unemployment Ityard. » RELIEF WITHDRAWN.

ACTION AT ONE TREE HILL

The refusal of the One Tree Hill Borough Council to give further help to unemployed residents of the district under No. 5 relief scheme was criticised at n meeting of the Hospital Board Relief Committee yesterday. The following resolution was passed:—"The committee views with alarm the resolution of the council, as if all other local bodies adopted the same attitude toward unemployment the Hospital Board funds would be strained to such an extent that an increased levy in the coming financial year would be inevitable." "The number of new cases coming in from the One Tree Hill district has caused much concern," said the chairman of the committee. Mr. W. K. Howitt, subsequently. "When one body stands out like this, it is not fair to the other local authorities, who are called on to bear more than their fair share of the burden." MEN FROM MAORI PAS. NEW SCHEME NOT TO .APPLY. [BY TELECnArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAURANGA, Thursday. The new scheme concerning unemployed men living in Maori pas, details of which were announced on Tuesday, is not to be brought into force, and the old regulations will apply. Information to this effect has been received l>y tho Mayor. Mr. B. C. Robbnis, from Mr. E. H. Birchall, investigating officer for the Unemployment Board. DRAINING SWAMP LANDS. LOWER WAIKATO BASIN. [FROM Ol'R OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MERCER, Thursday. Active interest has been created in a proposal that work should be provided for a large number of unemployed from the city in draining and bringing into productivity the large swamp areas in the basin of the Waikalo River between Rangiriri and Tuakau. A meeting of the settlers in the districts concerned is to be held in the Mercer Town Hull on Saturday afternoon. The areas which it is proposed to drain comprise about 40,000 acres. In mid-sum-mer they are in parts fairly dry and give good grazing, • but at other seasons they are under water. Electric power would Ke used for pumping tho water from the drai lis over floodgates when the river is high.

It is pointed out that if settlers and others interested are prepared to provide part of the cost of the work the Unemployment Board will provide the labour. Already, by arrangement, with the authorities and land owners concerned, a great many men from the c:ty are working in the Mangatawhiri area, enlarging the course of the Mangatawhiri Stream to give better drainage. CONDITIONS OF FARM WORK. SUGGESTION FOR ALTERATION. [RY TKr.F.C.ttA I'H. PRESS association.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. The execulivo of Hie New Zealand Farmers' Union passed a. remit endorsingthe Y.M.C.A. system of training lads for farm work and decided to request the Government to do similar work throughout the country. The executive decided to urge farmers to avail themselves fully of No. 4A and No. 5 schemes for supplying men for farm work. The following remit from Poverty Bay j was carried -That tho Unemployment j Board he asked to alter the conditions j of No. 4B scheme and the, board be j asked to pay the total amount of (he con- : tract price, the farmer to provide the j usual tools, camp gear, grass seed and other materials, and that the local office of the Labour Department or some such other institution should be authorised to handle payment locally without reference to Wellington.