BAN REMOVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 17

BAN REMOVED

PAYMENT OF BELIEF SINGLE UNEMPLOYED ASSISTANCE PROMISED DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE The extension of sustenance to men who had previously been denied financial assistance because they would not undertake farm wors and an easing of other restrictions against relief was announced to' a gathering of unemployed single men yesterday morning, following a conference between Mr. W. T. Anderton, M.P., representing the Government, Mr. J. Edwards, organiser of the Unemployed Workers' Union, and Mr. A. T. Grandison, officer in charge of the employment branch of the Labour Department in Auckland. Following ~the announcement, a special staff was kept busy at the Labour Bureau accepting re-registra-tions of men and taking applications Tor sustenance. Explanation of Position In explanation of the position, Mr. ' Anderton said the principle that a man offered work of a reasonable nature which he unreasonably refused would not be entitled to sustenance was in accord with the Government's policy to find employment for all men capable of filling a necessary and useful job. Some anomalies had crept into the situation, due to lack of understanding by men who had not been receiving sustenance that they were ontitled to reapply for same "under the regulations. Had some of the men more accurately presented their cases to the department it was obvious that they would have received sustenance, Mr. Anderton continued. Many men had / been classed as voluntarily unemployed because they had refused farm work, but at the present time there was no farm work offering for skilled workers, which meant that, men who had been denied assistance because of a refusal to accept farm employment, were now eligible for sustenance. Other Concessions When the position had been explained to the men at the meeting this morning by Mr. Edwards and Mr. Grandison they appeared to be quite satisfied. Among other concessions made was that sustenance would be continued pending inquiries and the resultant decision where for various reasons the ordinary stand-down period had been reduced or waived. There are 400 single registered unemployed men who had not applied for sustenance for various causes or who had been refused it because they would not accept country work when offered. As a result of the announcement yesterday it is anticipated that most of - these men will now come on the sus- > tenance funds.