AUCKLAND POSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 13

AUCKLAND POSITION

SCHEME ALREADY STARTED COMPARISON OF RATES RELIEF AND SUSTENANCE No information could- be obtained from the local office of the Labour Department yesterday as to the number of men in Auckland likely to be affected by the new sustenance scheme. However, it was stated that already sustenance payments were being made in Auckland to a few men who had shown that they wore not fitted for labour on ordinary relief works. The following figures give a comparison of the sums paid to the various classes of workers under the existing relief rates with those to be paid under the sustenance scheme: — Relief Sustenance Single men . . . . 10/- 10/Married men .. .. 22/6 17/6 Married, 1 child . . 27/- 19/6 Married, 2 children . . 31/6 21/6 Married, 3 or more • children . . . 36/- 23/6-26/-The sustenance rates for married men whose wives are in receipt, of old-age pensions range from 15s to 26s An official of the Labour Department said yesterday that there were many men who could not be sent to camps in the country and who, in addition, were not really fit for relief work in the city. With sustenance granted to them, these men'would be able to look for private work of a light nature. It was erroneous to suggest that all private earnings would be deducted from the amount paid as a sustenance allowance. The general rule was that no deductions were made if a man was earning from private work sufficient to bring his total weekly earnings up to the maximum sum which could be earned on relief. If he was earning over the maximum relief- wage, some small deduction might possibly be made from the Unemployment. Board's payment, but the main desire was to encourage men to obtain as much private work as possible/ Some doubts as to the practicability of the sustenance scheme were expressed by Mr. T. McNab, Mayor of Mount Eden. "It is evidently proposed to establish the scheme mainly on a voluntary basis," Mr. McNab said. "I do not think there will be many men who will volunteer to accept a reduction in wages for . the privilege of not performing any work. There is the added fact that some of the men aged between 50 and 60 are among our best workers.

* "If the scheme is intended to benefit men who are really physically incapable of giving an adequate return of work for their relief pay, it has much to commend it and is worth a trial."

RELIEF "WORKERS' STRIKE NO CHANGE AT GISBORNE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GISBOENE, Friday No development of any importance occurred in Gisborne this morning in connection with the relief workers' strike, which has been in progress since Monday. Collectors on behalf of the strikers have been carrying on a systematic canvass of the town and suburbs in quest of money and goods for the support of the families of the men affected. There are understood to be 750 men involved in the strike. ROAD WORKS NEAR GISBORNE CO-OPERATIVE CONTRACT BASIS

[by TELEGRAPH OWN COB respondent] GISBORNE, Friday Authority was received to-day by the district engineer of the Public Works Department to proceed with several major road works which will afford employment on a co-operative contract basis to approximately 80 married relief workers. The rates will be based 011 the ability of the average worker to earn 10s a day. Employment will bo for full time until the contracts are completed. BALLOT ON STRIKE ISSUE DECISION AT DUNEDIN [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Friday Considering that the unemployed of New Zealand are not being afforded a fair measure of relief the Unemployed Workers' Movement has decided to take a vote throughout the Dominion to decide whether relief workers will declare a general strike on all relief works. The ballot will be open only to genuine relieP workers and will be commenced next Wednesday morning.