MORE RELIEF PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 14

MORE RELIEF PAY

SUBSTANTIAL RISES SUSTENANCE RATES GRADUATED BENEFITS 'OPERATION FROM JUNE 1 [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Substantial increases in the rates of pay from the employment relief fund for men engaged on relief works and men on sustenance were announced in a statement in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of, Employment} Hon. H. T. Armstrong. The new rates will come into force during the week commencing June 1. Details of the new scale of payment, compared with the weekly rates ruling at present, are as follows: RELIEF WORKS Old rate New rate Single man . . • • J7b 21s Married inn n •• •• jj.s 88s Gd Married, one child . . 31s 4-a Gd Married, two children 35s 40s lid Married, three children 39s 50a 6ct Married, four children 41s 54s bd Married, five children 43s SSs (id Married, six chi dren 45s G-s Gd Married, seven children 4/3 G(.s ba SUSTENANCE Sinple mnn .. • • 1J S Married man . . .. -4" Married, one child 2Ss 33s Married, two children 32s 3,s Married, three children 3Gs 41s Married, forr children 38s 4?s Married, five chi dren 40s 40s Married, six children 42s s.js Married, seven children 44s o<s Payment For Intermittent Work Mr. Armstrong said the scale of payment from the Employment Promotion Fuad, applicable to intermittent work for local bodies would be on the basis of the maximum rates that appeared in the Unemployment Act, 1930. The work would be determined by the hourly rate of pay applicable under the Public Works/Department, which meant that the new rates would be divided by the Public Works standard rates in order -to determine the number of hours'to be worked in any week for the amount of weekly relief allocated to the various classes. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, would announce new rates of pay for public works within a few days. " Whatever hourly rate of pay is determined upon," the Minister continued, " it is certain that the new scale of payment from the Employment Promotion Fund will not fit into complete days of work. My department will invite local bodies), who still carry out works' under this intermittent scheme, to provide from their own resources the difference in wages cost to enable all men to be given employment to the nearest full day above the time factor covered by the new scale. Equal Rates for Maoris

"As local bodies are just at the start of a new financial year and are in a favourable position to respond to this request, I personally appeal for this co-operation. My department will further co-operate with local bodies with a view to replacing these intermittent works with full-time employment under standard conditions. The present number employed under No. 5 scheme and affected by these new rates is 15,700." The new relief work rates would apply to Maoris and Europeans alike, Mr. Armstrong added. The circumstances and living conditions of Maoris in some parts of the Dominion had given the Government much concern and the decision to pay equal rates had been made to enable Maoris to build up housing and home conditions equal to those of Europeans. "The present number in receipt of sustenance without performing any service is 14.4(H)." _ the Minister continued. "Included in this number are a great many who could not be placed in heavy manual employment and who cannot justifiably be a permanent charge on the employment fund. Others within this class are anxious for work and many of them should be absorbed in public works, or in other callings stimulated bv the improved economic situation. Gold Prospecting Subsidy "The new sustenance rates represent an increase ranging from 3s a week for a single man. to 13s a week for a man supporting seven dependent children. For a worker in the highest class who was previously subject to the highost scale the total increase since last November ift 19s a week. "When the country rates for Europeans under No. 5 scheme were adjusted to the city scale last month, no adjustment was made in the rates applicabje to Maoris living under pa conditions. This is being rectified by a retrospective payment based on a scale in excess of the> existing Maori rates by 6s/a week for married men and 4s 6d a week for single men. These payments will apply from March 2 until the higher rated come into operation the' week commencing June 1." Mr. Armstrong said the subsidy paid to gold prospectors would be increased to £2 a week for married men and £1 a week for single men. In addition there were several works throughout the Dominion where men were employed at special rates and steps would be taken to adjust those rates simultaneously with the other increases.