HELPING UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21552, 25 July 1933, Page 11

HELPING UNEMPLOYED

POSITION OF MINERS SUBSIDISED PROSPECTORS COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONDITIONS [by telegraph—OWN' correspondent] THAMES, Monday According to statements made by miners working under tlio Unemployment Board's subsidised prospecting scheme, there is considerable dissatisfaction among the men at the conditions now imposed on them, the consensus of opinion being that they are being unduly penalised in comparison with other relief workers. Complaint is mnde at the number of forms which miners aro compelled to sign. Over 90 per cent of the men are working on their own claims, this being possible by the .fact that they are in receipt of assistanco until they have done sufficient developmental work to make the claims payable. They object to having to fill in daily work sheets and consider the daily work sheets should bo withdrawn. While admitting that it is fair that the Unemployment Board should receive 10 per cent of all tho gold won, the men take exception to having to sign a form giving tho board authority to claihi in one payment a refund of all the money paid to the prospector out of tho Unemployment Board's funds in the event of him making a strike or selling his claim. Ensuring collection by the method of endorsement of tho miner's right by the certifying officer has also been the subject of complaint. A meeting of protest has been suggested by the men and it is likely that tho support of tho Miners' Union will bo enlisted and tho matters placed before the Minister of Mines. ART UNION PROCEEDS TAKAPUNA ALLOCATION Tho Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. Guiniven, has received advice from the Minister of Internal Affairs that a cheque for £6l, Takapuna's share in a recent art union, will bo forwarded for tho relief of distress in the district. The majority of the other suburban bodies arc members of the Metropolitan Belief Committee, but Takapuna withdrew and now receives its allocation direct. The money will bo handed to tho Takapuna Welfare League for distribution. BOOTS FOR WORKERS DISTRIBUTION IN AUCKLAND Auckland boot manufacturers supplying working boots to tlio Unemployment Board for issue to relief workers in tho Auckland district have now delivered 94-18 pairs. Thq contracts so far placed aggregate 15,000 pairs and .the balance is due for delivery by August 12. The distribution is being carried out regularly and up to yesterday 8599 pairs had been issued to men employed in tho country districts and on relief works in the metropolitan district. RELIEF IN" TE AROHA COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES [from our own correspondent] TE AROHA, Monday The secretary of the Te Aroha Relief Committee reported that 58 families were receiving meat rations and 17 families had been supplied with groceries to tho approximate cost of 3s lOd an order during the week. The committee decided to buy sufficient vegetable seeds for spring sowing by relief workers, and to hold a cattle drive at tho end of the month. Already this winter seven full-grown beasts have been donated.