WORK SCHEMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 14

WORK SCHEMES

NEW SUBSIDY BASIS OFFER BY GOVERNMENT UNEMPLOYED COMPLAINT PLAN TO RETAIN MEN Details of subsidies offered by the Government" for men employed on works under the City Council's proposed 1935 works loan, were revealed in a report from tho Employment Committee received at a meeting of the council last night. The council adopted recommendations for the retention until Juno 1 of men it had intended to dismiss, and for the provision of work for an additional 250 men as from June 1. A deputation was received from the Unemployed Workers' Movement, -which requested the retention of men recently dismissed from the council's employ. The deputation was introduced by Mr. J. Edwards, who said the men suggested that instead of going on sustenance, they should bo employed on schemes proposed prior to the municipal elections. An allegation that the council had failed to carry out its pledges was made by Mr. W. Woods. He said that in the past 12 months various promises had been made, but the men were now on sustenance at 10s less than was stipulated in the 1930 Act. Details of Subsidy Mr. W. J. Moore, district secretary of the Unemployed Workers' Movement, asked that everything possible should be done to keep the men employed. . The Employment Committee reported that it had conferred that day with Mr. W. Bromley, of the Unemployment Board, who had stated that he was authorised to offer a straight-out subsidy of £2 5s a week for each married man employed full time on works under the council's proposed 1935 works loan, the council to find the balance. In respect of men employed for' less than .--1 full time, the Government would pay the amount of wages, less an amount *-• to be provided by the council and estimated to average 3s 6d a man weekly. The committee recommended (1) that J; the men on intermittent employment. £?•.. with whom the council had intended to £ dispense, be, retained until June 1, when the Government's new scheme of in- * creased rates for men on intermittent work and sustenance would become effective, and (2) that the city engineer if. prepare for consideration a list of essential works which would provide XI employment for an additional 250 men on intermittent work to commence on "June 1. The report explained that the purU pose of the second proposal was to re--2 tsv'n as many of the men as possible 2 on intermittent work at the new rates •< instead of on sustenance until they *1 could be absorbed into full-time em- « ploymentLoan Poll to be Held . -1 The committee further recommended it that as soon as the necessary authority was received from the Local GovernJ ment Loans Board, to proceed with the ~ raising of the 1935 works loan, steps bo taken to hold a poll of the rateZ payers in terms of the authority. ~ The chairman of the Employment Z Committee, the Hon. F. E. Lark, M.L.C., said the council had not failed *• in its duty. It was hoped that the 2 ratepayers would make it possible for .< the major scheme to be commenced with a minimum of delay. Meanwhile £ there would be the intermittent work, - which would enable many men to 1 benefit. Mr. H. P. Burton said the proposal .* should have been considered six ~ months ago. He was anxious to know, » however, how the cost was going to be % met. / « " The deputy-mayor, the Hon. B. S Martin, M.L.C., said the cost would * be met from the ordinary revenue of the council. If necessary, however, the % cost could be covered by rating the * people. He, for one, was prepared to stand or fall by this. Sir George Richardson said there were 6000 men in Auckland on what

might be called relief works, and more than 6000 on sustenance. He had been "* appalled to learn that comparatively few men would be provided for by the council's scheme. The committee's report and recommendations were adopted.

WORKERS' DWELLINGS HOMES FOR PENSIONERS A PROPOSAL DEFERRED A suggestion that as an experiment a settlement of approximately twenty house'- for the accommodation of old age pensioners might be erected in connection with the coiincil's proposed housing scheme was submitted recently by the Auckland Clergy Group. It was stated by the group that there was a heed for providing housing for these old people, many of whom had no support other than the actual pensions. Reporting to the City Council last night tho Town Planning Committee Btated that it proposed to defer this suggestion until matters affecting tho proposed Workers' Dwelling Loan of £200,000 had been finalised with the Local Government Loans Board and that the proposal would be considered in conjunction with the major scheme. This report was adopted. MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR PROPOSED ADDITIONS ITEM OF £5300 DELETED , In view of a doubt expressed by tho director-general of agriculture as to the necessity for proposed additions to the " beef-killing space at the Municipal Abattoir, the City Council resolved last night to delete the item of £5300 for the scheme from its 1935 loan proposals, now before the Local Government Loans Board. The director-general, in a letter, said that his department was required to advise the Loans Board whether tho additions were to be regarded as a necessity or merely desirable, or even a luxtiry. To all appearances the present space was sufficient for all requirements, but he would be glad to have any further information and reasons that the council could supply. The abattoir manager, Mr. R. Rugg, reporting on tho letter, said it must be admitted that the addition was not necessary to cope with the present volume of work. It might be advisable to withdraw this portion of the loan proposal in order that more urgent .works might be proceeded with. The town clerk reported that tho Loans Board had stated in February .that it had withheld approval of tho abattoir proposal pending further information. The Public Services Committee recommended that the manager's report be adopted and that the loan application oe_ reduced by £5300. This was approved fey, the council.