COUNTRY RELIEF WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21292, 20 September 1932, Page 13

COUNTRY RELIEF WORKERS

Sir,— Being a country, relief worker I wish to endorse the remarks of "Below Par" appearing in your issue of September 12. I am a class B man and under the new scheme have to work 3J days each week for three weeks and then stand down for a week. This means that while still earning the same amount of money each week, namely, £1 8s l£d, I am doing it at the rate of 10s per day instead of at 12s 6d under the old scheme. This new plan certainly impairs my chances of supplementing my relief earnings, particularly so in view of the fact that it is only now, at this season, that one or two jobs are offering. Again, this scheme was introduced with the idea of bringing the country relief worker into line with the metropolitan relief worker. Has it accomplished this objective? Definitely no! I have taken a comparison of the cost of Jiving in the country as against the town, spread" over a period of three months, ended 31st ultimo. The country cost exceeds that- of the town by 28 per cent, the one and only item we enjoy a reduction in. being rent. For the benefit of readers, who may doubt the accuracy of this statement, I enumerate the following items:—Milk,. 5d per quart at the dairy; bread, 6d per small loaf (not delivered); meat, ruling town prices, and no benefit from the meat pool; sugar, 3d per lb. in 6lb. lots; other groceries at prices ranging upwards, compared with town prices, according to the humour of the local vendor. If one should contemplate going to the cfty there is an outlay of 7s 6d for the fare, without taking into consideration any meals while there. Freight costs Is 6d for the first quarter and 2s 6d up to hjilf a cwt. I am working approximately three miles from the job and it is a question of finding your own transport, which means "shank's pony," ind still more expense for boot leather. My case is not so bad as that of "Below Par," but I feel that all country relief workers are more or less in the same josition, and if the Government really wants to do the same by all, they should Institute a thorough inquiry, and if necessary, send an emissary to work on the ob for a short period to ascertain the •cal existing conditions. Reliefer.