TIME ON RELIEF WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 11

TIME ON RELIEF WORKS

OBJECTION TO THE CUT RESTORATION NOT POSSIBLE STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday Replying to a local bodies' deputation, which asked for the restoration of the cut in relief workers' time, the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, stated to-day that if a bigger allocation were made it would mean a bigger burden on the individual taxpayer. The board would like to give more, but the fund could not stand tlio restoration of the 10 per cent cut. He assured the deputation that the amount of voluntary help given in Christehurch did not affect the size of the board's allocation. "I think I will have to say we earn not restore the cut," said the Minister. He expressed surprise that men refused to go to standard Public Works camps, where useful work was being done. The local bodies should be prepared to find overhead costs, material and supervision.

A deputation representing relief workers waited on the Minister arid asked for more grants for sustenance in money. The spokesmen declared that poverty was widespread and many wives and children were suffering from malnutrition. They protested against married men being required to go to camp and declared that the unemployed wanted the whole system of relief depots abolished and increased cash allowances with which to purchase food.

The Minister made it clear that unless a man obtained exemption he would, be expected to go to camp if told to do so. He disagreed with the deputation as to the merits of the relief depots. In the course of his reply the Minister said the Unemployment Board had a slightly better credit balance than it had at this time last year, but the number of unemployed was bounding up. The last return showed an increase of 2000. He did not know why the unemployed wanted to be paid in money rather th{i.n in kind. He knew of no centre getting a better allocation than Christehurclh. If the registrations got too high, the board might have to cut into its reserves. A Voice: What are the reserves? Mr. Hamilton: One week's allocation, about £BO,OOO. He added that no city was doing better than Christchurch in the matter of additional help. He did not understand the objections to going to the camps. A Voice: Do you intend to conscript men into the camps? The Minister: We say that if a man refuses a standard job, then it Is his own responsibility. A Voice: We won't starve in a land of plenty. The Minister: Threats like that won't get you anywhere. He added that he could not give an assurance that the 10 per cent cut in work would be restored.

WORKERS' ORGANISATIONS CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON, Saturday Relief workers' organisations in all parts of the Dominion are represented at a conference which commenced in Wellington to-day and which is expected to continue for several days. The object of the conference, which is attended by 40 delegates, representing over 30,000 registered unemployed, is to form a national movement with a national policy. Mr. J. R. Scott, president of the Wellington Relief Workers' Union, is chairman of the conference, which is not open to the press. FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT LARGE NUMBER OF MEN WANTED [by telegraph—owx correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday A big demand for unemployed labour is being made this winter by the State Forest Service for development schemes in both the North and South Islands and the Minister of Employment, Hon. A. Hamilton, stated in Christchurch yesterday that the department had f notified the Unemployment Board that it required between 1000 and 2000 r.ien for forestry relief works. Between 500 and 600 men would be required for the Auckland district. The men would mainly be single and would go into camps in various parts of the Dominion.

It is understood that work will be made available for about 100 married men on forestry operations in the Rotorua district, states the Herald's Rotonia correspondent. The work will commence very shortly and will last about four months. The rates of pay will be 2os and found for men with no children, 80s a week for men with one child, 35s a week for men with two children and £2 a week for men with three or more children.

CONDITIONS IN HAMILTON SUBSIDY OX SEWERAGE SCHEME [from our own correspondent"! HAMILTON, Sunday A deputation, consisting of Mr. J, I?. Kow, Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. S. V. Tyler, chairman of the Works Committee, and Mr. W. L. Waddel, town clerk, waited on the Minister of Labour, the Hon. A. Hamilton, and the deputychairman of the Unemployment Board, Mr.S. Jesscp, in Wellington, with respect to the unemployment position in Hamilton. The Hon. .T. A. Young, Minister of Health and M.P. for Hamilton, was also present. On the return of the deputation yesterday morning Mr. Fow said the Minister of Labour appreciated the Hamilton people's difficulties in respect to the stand-down week, but he pointed out that the Government had its troubles in turn. The Minister sairl if the stand-down week were abolished in Hamilton it would have to be abolished in every town. The deputation could get no satisfaction with regard to the weekly cuts in the time worked. Substantial gains in other directions had been obtained. The Unemployment Board had agreed to subsidise tiie £7OOO sewerage scheme bv £1 a week per man, which represented a grant of £I2OO to the town. This concession was granted in consideration of the council taking 40 men off the unemployed list. Improved conditions of pay were offered to married men who would go into camp to work on an afforestation scheme near Taupo and there would be no stand-down week.