HIGHER RELIEF PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22161, 15 July 1935, Page 11

HIGHER RELIEF PAY

INCREASES AS A BONUS SPECIAL WINTER MEASURE OTHER CONCESSIONS GRANTED [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Saturday The Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, referring to his recent announcement that as from July 1, No. 5 scheme and sustenance weekly relief rates would be increased by 2s for single men and 3s for married men, stated to-day that owing to the varying conditions in many parts of the Dominion it became apparent to the Unemployment Board that serious administrative difficulty attended the implementing of this decision. Consequently, the matter had been occupying the attention of the board at a meeting extending over the past few days. "The board has now decided," said the Minister, "to convert this increase as from July 1 into a free bonus, for which work in return will not be required. This bonus, which is to be regarded as a special relief measure to alleviate hardship during the winter, will be paid to every relief worker who is or becomes eligible for and receives rationed relief work or sustenance under No. 5 scheme." Provision for Work Done

The Minister stated that a large number of men had already worked extra time in order to qualify, for the payment of the increase, and now, owing to its conversion into a_ bonus, such men would within the next few weeks be granted pay without work for a period equivalent to the extra time they had so worked.

Amending instructions to conform with the decision are now in the course of preparation and they will be issued to certifying officers and employing authorities at an early date. The Minister also referred to the recent controversy regarding the principle of' allowing authorities employing men under No. 5 scheme to work the men to the nearest half-day below their allocation, instead of requiring them to work the full number of hours represented by their allocation. In explanation of this he stated that previously, where working time did not fit evenly into half-days, the employing authorities were permitted at their discretion to arrange for men to work to the nearest half-day below their allocation. Increased Private Earnings

The board has now decided that this concession can generally be adopted by local bodies, as the board appreciates that in many cases it is unreasonable to require relief workers to proceed to jobs for an hour or two when they might more profitably be engaged in exploring avenues of private employment. Then, again, difficulties may not be confined to the transport of men to and from jobs, and the added concessions now indicated should make it possible for a more general application of the principle. Generally speaking, employing authorities will be authorised to apply the concession to the fullest degree, with the exception only of those cases where insuperable difficulties exist. The board has also given attention to the question of private earnings or other private income allowable. It has decided to increase the present scale by allowing the worker to earn from private sources a further 5s a week before any reduction is made in his relief allocation.