RATES OF RELIEF PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 10

RATES OF RELIEF PAY

REQUEST FOR INCREASE REFUSAL BY MINISTER LIVING COSTS NOT RISING [BT TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A request for increased allocations for the unemployed as an offset against the incroased cost of living caused by the higfhor exchange rate was refused by tho Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister said ho was satisfied that the cost of living "was still falling, in spite of the increase in the exchange rato.

The matter was introduced in an urgent question by Mr. A. S. RiAarcTs (Labour —Roskill), who asked that relief workers' wages should be increased by an amount equal to the increase in tho cost of living. It was common knowledge, ho said, that retailers and others had been advised by merchants that an increase on almost every commodity affecting the budgets of the masses of from 15 to 20 per cent had taken effect from tho end of January.

"I have not had time to look into the matter fully," said the Minister, "but I venture to say that the cost of living is gradually falling and I do not think that tho riso in the rate of exchange will affect that fall."

The cost of living was not all affected by the exchange. The three main items in any household, fuel, light and rent, which were still far too high in price, could not be said to bo affected. Prices of these items must come down.

A Labour Member (sarcastically): If

you say so.

Mr. W- Nash (Labour —Hutt) : .While you force them up. The Minister: The exchange will not force those three up. In tho meantime there is no intention of increasing the allocations. KAWAKAWA ALLOCATION EXPLANATION OF AMOUNT [by telegraph—special reporter] ■WELLINGTON, Tuesday The suggestion that an insufficient allocation had been made for the relief of unemployed at Kawakawa was contained in an urgent question, addressed to the Minister of Employment, tho Hon. A. Hamilton, by Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Country—Bay of Islands) in the House to-day. Mr. Rushworth asked whether the Kawakawa unemployment committee had to make provision for 11 registered unemployed and whether the sum now allocated for their relief was £6 18s weekly. If so, Mr. Rushworth asked whether immediate action would be taken to increase such a very inadequate allocation. Replying, Mr. Hamilton said the latest registration showed 10 registered unemployed at Kawakawa. The allocation mentioned by Mr. Rushworth was made on the registration of eight unemployed, that being the latest figure when the allocation was assessed. The allocation had already been adjusted on account of the increased registrations shown in the latest advice. At this season of the year, it was to be expected that casual work might be obtained in that district to supplement the allocation. At this time last year, added tho Minister, the allocation at Kawakawa was suspended.