NEW RELIEF RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 10

NEW RELIEF RATES

HIGHER SCALE OF PAY ANNOUNCEMENT TO-DAY FIVE-DAY WEEK LIKELY [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL nEFORTER] WELLINGTON, Monday A definite announcement of the new rates to be paid to all men engaged oil relief works and all men receiving sustenance from the unemployment fund is to bo announced in the House of Representatives to-morrow afternoon. It is understood that the rates have been finally settled after discussions in Cabinet and that they are to be announced in the form of u Ministerial statement by the Minister of Employment, Hon. H. T. Armstrong. Details of the new scale of wages and sustenance could not bo obtained to-night, but it is gathered that they will represent a substantial increase over the rates ruling at present. There is also reason for believing that the Government intends to institute definitely a five-day week of 40 hours for men engaged on relief works and possibly in some other occupations whero they are subsidised from unemployment funds. As stated in the House by Mr. Armstrong last week, an early announcement is also likely regarding a new scale of wages for men employed by the Public Works Department. Tho Hon. R. Semple's statement may possibly have reference to tho formation of tho New Zealand Workers' Union with which his department will conduct all future negotiations regarding wages and conditions on public works.