UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21977, 12 June 1933, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

BUILDING SUBSIDY SCHEME REPLY TO CRITICISM (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, June 10. Important reference was made by Mr J. S. Jessep, deputy chairman of the Unemployment Board, to the new building subsidy sheme, in replying to criticisms levelled at it. In doing so he did not mince matters, but staunchly defended the move as one designed to assist an industry which, he asserted, had been adverely affected probably more than any other single branch of business in the Dominion by the depression. , He contended that the action taken by the board was more than justified by circumstances. “There is, no trade worse off at the present than the building industry,” he said. “It is nearly dead. It is estimated that not 10 per cent, a liberal estimate would be 20 per dent., but reliable men say 10 per cent.—of the men formerly engaged in the building trade are in work in that trade to-day. Taking it at 20 per cent., we have 80 per cent, of the tradesmen idle. The board, after a lot of thought, decided that, from our point of view, there was no trade that we could attempt to stimulate, no trade that would relieve pressure on the unemployment funds more. I want to stress that point and to induce men who have funds to spend to commence spending them now. , “Some criticism has been levelled at the scheme from the point of view that we are going to put money into the pockets of men who can well afford to put up a building, perhaps a big .building. Well, that is not onr point of view. c We really are asking the assistance of any man who has money to spend it now. After all. the labour on a building, a big building particularly, is a small part of the total expenditure. Mr Jessep said that the building scheme was not the only one under which the hoard was subsidising heavily in order to get men on to useful works. Under scheme 4b,” he pointed out, we are asking the assistance of any man of means —and I say that quite distinctly, I don t care if he is the wealthiest man or insti-, tution in New Zealand —if he will do developmental work of any ; description which, under ordinary economic conditions would not be done, we pay 50 per cent, of the cost. That applies to drainage of lands and so on. We welcome the man who will pay his 50 per cent. We can stand up to all the criticism that conies along, We may be indirectly assisting the man with money, but otherwise he is not going to do the work. We are, in fact, very willing to find our_ 50 per cent., and we consider that it is some of the best type of work that we are doing in New Zealand to-day. STREET MEETING DISPERSED INCIDENT IN AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 11. A meeting of unemployed for Quay street; on the Auckland waterfront this afternoon was attended by Inspector Hollis, two sergeants, and 30 constables, who quietly dispersed over 200 people after warning them that they were liable to be prosecuted for obstruction if they refused to move. Inspector Hollis decided that the meeting could not be permitted in a public street. The unemployed had erected a Platform in spite of having been warned by the police that their meeting would not be allowed. The platform was seized by the police, who then dispersed the crowd. The unemployed were told that they could join another party in a united front in Victoria Parky and they were given back their platform, which they took to the park. There was no disturbance or demonstration. PUBLIC WORKS LABOUR COUNCIL’S REQUEST. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 10. A request that the Public Works Department should put in hand works was made to the Minister of Public Works (Mr J. Bitchener) by a deputation from the Wellington Trades and Labour Council. The speakers urged that the Public Works Department should put in hand the renovating of a number of'Government buildings in urgent need of repair work to be done at standard rates of pay, thus employing a large number of men. It was also suggested that the new Wellington railway station should be proceeded with on the same lines as the National Museum and Art Gallery. Protests were made against the low rate of pay for tradesmen in the Public Works Department. The Minister said that some of the points raised were new to him and he would investigate them. The suggestion that the railway station should be constructed was one worthy of consideration. NO CARDS DESTROYED AN APOLOGY DEMANDED. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH,, June 10. A denial was made this morning by Mr R T. Bailey, the officer in charge of the'Labour Department, of allegations made yesterday at a local bodies’ conference that, because certain unemployed married men refused to go to camp their registration cards were torn up by the department officials, and they were informed that no further work would be available for them. Mr Bailey has written to tbe Mayor (Mr D. G. Sumvan) inviting him to visit the bureau, “ When you will be permitted to call for the cards alleged to have been destroyed. If the original cards are produced. then I will expect a public apology to be offered to the officers of tbe bureau.” MARRIED MEN’S CAMPS UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD’S DECISION. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 11. An intimation that tbe rules of the Unemployment Board would be applied and that married men unwilling to go into camp would be considered as voluntarily unemployed, was given by Mr RT. Bailey when a conference to consider (lie question of compulsion was resumed. The conference unanimously expressed itself as being opposed to tbe compulsory element, sustenance or no sustenance, and also urged that the wages and conditions of the camps should be improved. It was decided to hold a representative meeting of protest. 'BUSINESS MEN’S APPEAL CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ASSIST. (Per United Presa Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. The business men’s relief appeal aiming to raise £25,000 has so far netted £4763. ’hie City Council employees, after hearing an address, by the Mayor, agreed to contribute 3d in the £ from their wages.