NEW RELIEF RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 12

NEW RELIEF RATES

A GENERAL LEVELLING OPERATION FROM MONDAY From the point of view of the Unemployment Hoard an outstanding feature of the new scales of sustenance and relief pay that will come into force on Monday is the elimination of a multiplicity of differing rates for various centres and a general tendency to level the standard. In many cases the practical effect is that a little has been taken from the low-paTTi man at the bottom of the scale and a little given to the higher paid man at the top—that is, the man with a number of children. In the city rates there have been 110 actual reductions, although some classes will receive larger increases than others. Only in certain groups in districts near the city has there been a decrease. In the Waitemata County, for instance, some who have been getting 22s 6d will now receive 18s, and others will be reduced from 25s to 225. On the other hand, a group that formerly received 25s will in future get 265, and of those who used to receive £1 13s 9d some will now get £1 10s and others up to £1 18s, according to the number of children dependent on them. The stand-down week is now abolished and all payments are to be made for every week. The rations of milk and food granted in some instances to those on sustenance will cease after to-day, it being claimed that the position is adjusted by the higher scale of allowance to bo granted, it is also met to some extpnt by a provision for dealing with cases of special hardship by ad voicing a man to thp class on the next higher , scale of pay..