RELIEF WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21736, 27 February 1934, Page 11

RELIEF WAGES

- - . - *- VARIED ALLOCATIONS TARANAKI MAYORS COMPLAIN A "STAGGERING" DIFFERENCE APPEAL TO MINISTER MOOTED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN. CORRESPONDENT] ]N-#,V PLYMOUTH, Monday 5 The unemployment allocations were freely criticised by * the Mayors of boroughs in Taranaki at a conference ' held at Eltham to-day. The Mayors present were Messrs. I. J. Bridger, tham, E. B. C. Gilmour, New Plymouth, F. Ramsbottom, Patea; J. Gibbs, Inglewood, and J. E. Campbell, Hawera. The following resolutions were passed;—■ ; feThat this meeting strongly reiterates its previous opinion that all relief workers throughout the Dominion should be placed on the same basis, irrespective of cities, towns or districts. This meeting respectfully suggests that the Unemployment Board should show more confidence in, and consideration for, the unemployment committees, or else definitely state that it does not desire assistance and co-opera-tion. That a letter be forwarded to all Mayors in New Zealand setting oift the differentiation and wide disparity in the allocations, not only as between cities and towns, but between town and totfn; and that they be requested to advise as to their willingness to attend ' as a deputation to the Minister to put forward the case for equal allocation for all relief workers, such deputation to be arranged during the municipal conference in Hawera. That the attention of the board be drawn to the difference between the wages of a man with no children and a man with three children, and that a suggestion be made for a sliding scale allowing more for men, with one or _ two children than for a man with a wife only. Mr. Gilmour said the unemployment allocations during the past three years showed an amazing decrease. Figures taken for the third week in January were: —Single men, 1932, 18s; 1933, 7 s 6d; 1934, 4s 8d; B men, £1 17s 6d, £1 3s 9d, 18s 9d; C men, £2 10s, £1 13s Id, £1 8s Id. He described as staggering the figures showing the difference in relief wages earned in various centres in Taranaki in the same week last month. They were:—Single men, New Plymouth, 4s 8d; 'Patea, 5s 7sd; Eltham, 7s 4d; Hawera, os 8d; B men, 18s 9d, lis 3d, 14s 3d, 15s; C men, £1 8s Id, 15s, £1 2s 3d, £1 2s 6d. PAYMENT OP LEVY REPLY TO GISBORNE REQUEST % [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"! GISBORNE, Monday In reply to a.request for an extension of time in respect of the February levy payment from men engaged in the recent relief works strike the Commissioner of Unemployment states: "Every consideration has already been given the men who declined employment relief, and the stand-down period has been waived. We would like to point out that these men officially informed the Unemployment Board while in "Wellington that their families were 100 per cent better off while they were on strike than when they were getting unemployment relief work. We regret, therefore, that we cannot make further conces- - sions with regard to the levy." "OUT" RESTORATION URGED , COMMITTEE IN CHRISTCHURCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday The Christchurch Unemployment Committee to-day carried the following resolution: —"That, while recognising the fine work accomplished by the various relief associations, the committee recommends the restoration of the 10 per cent "cut," and strongly UTges the Government to provide means whereby this can be done at the earliest possible moment. The motion met with opposition as well as support. It was argued in opposition that increased pay to relief workers could be provided only by extra taxation, and this already was burdensome. It was also stated that an [ increase in relief pay would make it . still more difficult to find men for farm work. . . . .. PROBLEM AT NEW LYNN : FEARS OF SCHEME CEASING > L [ "It looks as though the No. 5 : relief scheme will practically cease in about three months' time," said, the ' Mayor of New Lynn, -Mr. G. Lawson, ' at a meeting of the Borough Council last evenings "We could not continue ' to provide work for men under a sub- ■ sidy scheme. We could not stand £lO L a week, and, even if we could, that • amount would not go very far among our relief workers." I On the Mayor's suggestion it was dei cided to approach the Government to i see if anything could be done to ims prove dangerous railway crossings in • the borough. "It is a national work 1 which might well be undertaken by re- , lief labour," said Mr. Lawson.