RELIEF LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21458, 4 April 1933, Page 10

RELIEF LABOUR

AUCKLAND PROBLEMS CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER CASUAL WORKERS* RIGHTS ATTITUDE OF THE BOARD Matters affecting the administration of the unemployment fund in the Auckland area were discussed at a conference at the Town Hall yesterday, when the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, met representatives of the local bodies in the metropolitan area. Mr. Hamilton was accompanied by Messrs. J. S. Jessep and W. Bromley, members of the Unemployment Board. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, presided. The conference was not open to the press but at the conclusion a statement was issued. The chairman drew attention to the serious position of the unemployed in the Auckland area and complained of the inadequacy of the allocations received from the fund. Points were raised concerning men who supplemented their relief earnings by securing outside work. Cases were quoted to the Minister of unemployed workers who had secured casual employment on their off days having a similar amount deducted from their relief allocation. This discouraged the men from trying to secure other employment. Mr. Jessep emphasised that the policy of the board was to encourage men to seek outside private employment and insisted that, when offered, such employment must be accepted. He mentioned that in Canterbury it had been necessary to close No. 5 scheme work in certain places altogether because the men were not accepting harvesting work at which 12s a day could be earned. Some delegates insisted that the practice of penalising the worker operated in Auckland, and the Minister promised to confer with the local officers on the matter. Another point raised was that whed. men could no longer be supplied with No. 5 work and had to be placed on sustenance too long a,period elapsed before they could get their first sustenance payment. It was asked that this period should be reduced. The Minister said it was difficult to understand why there should be a delay of ten days and ho undertook to have the matter investigated with a view to having the period reduced to the minimum. Reference was made to the policy of the board in sending married men to relief camps. One of the board members asked the delegate who raised this point what the policy of the hoard should be when, having offered a man work in a public works camp at standard rates, he declined to go to the work without offering any legitimate excuse. The delegate's reply was that in the circumstances the worker had no right to look to the State for assistance. The chairman urged closer co-oper-ation between the board and the local bodies so that the latter could be kept more fully advised as to the policy of the board and the state of the board's funds. WORK IN COUNTRY TRANSFER OF MARRIED MEN OBJECTION FROM NEW LYNN A request that the policy of requiring _ married men with families to go into country relief camps should he discontinued, was made to the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, yesterday by a deputation from New Lynn. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, M.P., included the, Mayor of New Lynn, Mr. G. Lawson, representatives of the local Unemployed Association, the Society for the Protection of Women and Children and business interests. It was pointed out to the Minister that the lack of parental control resulted in too many children reaching the Children's Court. It was considered many works of a constructive nature could be carried on in the district. The deputation presented a petition containing about 900 signatures in support of their request. The Minister said it was not altogether unreasonable to ask men to leave their homes to seek employment, and mentioned that there were numerous men engaged in a variety of occupations who were seldom able to be at home. He had to see that the funds I of the board were expended in the best direction. The work which had been offered to the men was on public undertakings with a six-day week at standard rates. So far as the business men of New Lynn were concerned the trorkers sent to the country would probably be able to send more money to their homes than would be the case were they engaged on ordinary relief work near their homes. He undertook to consider the request, but he thought it was very questionable whether he would be ablo to help them very much. FUNDS FOR COMMITTEES SHARE IN ART UNIONS Members of the Auckland Metropolitan Unemployment Relief Committee asked the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, yesterday to assist them with the request they had made to tho Minister of Internal Affairs, tho Hon. J. A. loung, for a share in the returns from art unions. The committee had suggested that half the proceeds of all art unions held under a permit from the Government should bo made available for distribution to tho relief committees of the four main centres, so that the work of assisting relief workers in country camps and elsewhere with boots, blankets and clothing could be carried on during tho winter. The Minister said ho would discuss the proposal wit a Mr. Young.