RELIEF CAMPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 10

RELIEF CAMPS

UNEMPLOYED SINGLE MEN MINISTER OUTLINES* SCHEME (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 3. Unemployment relief camps were the subject of a statement by the Minister of Labour (Mr S. G. Smith) in. the House of Representatives to-night. He said that there had been just over 20 camps already selected. The size of the camps would range from 25 to 80 men each, and sufficient camps were being selected to provide for the 1000 men arranged for with the Main Highways Board. The men would be selected mainly from the cities and the larger centres in the first place, and instructions as to their selection were being issued to the centres concerned immediately. It was hoped that some of the camps would begin operations next week. The men would be provided with plain food and a simple tent accommodation, and a certain amount of pocket money, which would average approximately 10s per man per week, very similar to the basis on which scheme No. 4A was now operated. The payment, however, would be on the basis of effort. Some might receive a little more than 10s, while others might not earn quite eo much as that amount. Tents would have to be shared, probably two in a tent. The Minister added that in the event of the camps beting operated successfully, it was hoped that developmental work on the land might also be undertaken along similar lines. Indeed, one large block in the north of Auckland, which would be cut up into 27 sections, had already been selected for experiment in this way, and a camp would be established there within a few days. The workers in that camp would be utilised to prepare the necessary access roads to subdivisions, and would continue developmental work on the sections themselves. Should that be found practicable, some of the workers would, no doubt, if they so desired, have an opportunity of participating in the ballot for selection when the stage for actual settlement had been reached.