UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21984, 20 June 1933, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

SMALL FARMS’ SCHEME A RUSH OF APPLICANTS' STATEMENT BY MINISTER (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 19. _ The immediate development of approximately 8000 acres preparatory to settlement was given tentative approval at a recent meeting of the Small Farm Settlements’ Board. Within the next few months the board hopes to have at least 20,000 acres in hand._ The present areas are situated in the vicinity of Tc Kuiti, Hamilton, Rotorua, Dargaville, and Kaitaia. The Unemployment Board has intimated to the Small Farm Settlements’ Board its willingness to consider proposals for establishing camps for the unemployed in any locality to undertake the reconditioning of abandoned Crown securities or holdings subject to mortgage to the State. The importance of these activities in relation to unemployment is stressed by the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom), who explains that if the areas are actually being settled they would afford openings for between 140 and 150 men, but the land was unimproved and had' to be prepared for settlement and nearly double this number of men would be taken out of the ranks of the unemployed and given work in the way of clearing, stumping, reconditioning, road-jpaking and fencing. The Minister said there was a strong demand for land,under these conditions. “It is impossible to satisfy the whole of the applications in hand,” said the Minister. “ The applicants themselves can materially assist the organisation and development schemes by obtaining from private owners the right to lease a certain portion of their properties. If the applicants can obtain an option over a suitable area at a reasonable rental with the fight of purchase within a period of 10 years such transaction will be investigated immediately with a view to carrying out development and ultimately taking off the unemployment register men who have been responsible for initiating the project.” BUILDING SUBSIDY CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION RULES FOR GUIDANCE. The Labour Department has now obtained information regarding the rules for the subsidisation of wages of workers placed in the building industry , as from June 1. Particularly important rules are the following:—“No subsidy will be payable in respect of wages for work per-, formed away from the premises, notwithstanding that such work may be part of the approved job, and whether or not carried out by the contractor for the approved job.” “ Subsidy will not be payable if the work is commenced prior to the approval .of the Unemploj'ment Board bding notified to the owner, and approval; of the subsidy will be cancelled if the contract is not let and work actually commenced within three calendar months of the date of notification of approval, unless by arrangement with the Unemploy.ment Board in the case of large buildings where the time necessary for the preparation of plans and.specifications would exceed that period of time.” / Inter alia, the list of rules further states: —

No specific restriction will now be made as to the class of new buildings, alterations, additions to, or renovation of buildings, upon which a subsidy may be applied for; but/ all applications will be individually considered by the Unemployment Board. Applications must be accompanied by a statement of the class of work to / be undertaken and of the reasons (if any) which would prevent the work proposed from being proceeded with this year without the assistance of a subsidy. The decision of the Unemployment Board as to approval or otherwise must in every case be accepted as final, and it will be a condition of approval, in every case, that New .Zealand materials shall be used wherever, practicable. , On approved works' a wages subsidy will be paid from the Unemployment Fund at the rate of 33 1-3 per cent, up to award rates on the total wages paid, in respect of \ the labour actually performed on the premises, except that in the' case of the erection of new dwelling houses not exceeding £650 total building cost the wages subsidy will be at the rate of 50 per cent, on wages up to' award rates on the total wages paid in respect of all labour actually performed on the premises. If any question arises as to what shall constitute “labour actually performed on the premises,” in respect of which subsidy is claimed, the point shall be referred to the Unemployment Board, whose decision shall be final. In order to calculate the amount of subsidy payable, a wages book showing only wages paid for work actually performed on the premises must be kept, and a certificate as to its accuracy must be given by the builder concerned. In the case of small jobs where the building contractor is himself actually engaged doing the work, or where he is working ’ with "the men, it shall be : in order for him to book wages to hiirffeelf for the actual time so worked, based on the rate for tradesmen operating in the current award for carpenters and joiners. The wages of subcontractors or men engaged by subcontractors may be entered in the wages book on the job, but only in respect of time actually worked on the premises, and such wages must be certified to as being correct by the builder in charge of the work. If the work on an approved job is commenced in accordance with the foregoing, and the rules of the scheme are otherwise complied with, the subsidy will continue to be paid until the completion of the job unless otherwise specified by the board. No subsidy will, however, without reference to the Commissioner of Unemployment, be paid on wages which are in excess by % more than 5 per cent, of the estimate given in the application. No restriction will be imposed regarding the wuirce from which labour may be recruited —that is to say, wages for labour- other than that engaged through a Government labour bureau will be eligible for subsidy. Employers, however, are asked to recognise that, as a general rule, the necessity for relief is greater in the case of married men, and that they will materially assist the Unemployment Board in dealing with this problem if they will, other thipgs being equal, give preference to married men. Workers who may be engaged through a Government labour bureau, and who have hitherto been in receipt of relief

under scheme No. 5, may, in the first week of their employment under scheme No. 10, proceed thereto immediately on completion of .their ration of "work under scheme No. 5, bub in no other circumstances may they work under both schemes in the same week. ■ Application for the payment of the subsidy under scheme 10 are to be made on amended form U.B. 99 (in duplicate). ' . SUPPLIES OF COAL . AVAILABLE AT BEDROCK PRICES. (Per United Press Association.), CHRISTCHURCH, June In a letter to the Citizens’ Relief Committee, the Minister of Mines (Mr C. E. .Macmillan) stated that the department had authorised the manager of the State Coal Depot, Christchurch, to supply coal to the Relief Committee at bedrock prices. The Minister was unable to grant the request that unemployed miners should be put on mining -coal for the relief of distress. The Minister added that the miners employed in the State coal mine were not working , full time, and any attempt to add to the number of employees by. engaging l more men at relief rates would lead to results which would be far from satisfactory. FREE RAIL CARRIAGE REFUSED. ■:' , : ■ : r>* ■■ ■. v. .‘U (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. 7 The Acting Minister of Railways (Mr E. A. Ransom) has notified the Christchurch Unemployment Committee that the department is unable to carry coal free from the West Coast to Christchurch for unemployed. The committee has decided to approach, the Unemployment Board, - CAMPS FOR MARRIED MEN • MASS MEETING OF PROTEST. -(Pee United Press’ Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. • A mass meeting of unemployed to protest against compulsory camps for manned men will be held in Latimer square at 11 to-morrow morning. The. organisers have been arranging' the demonstration for some time, and endeavouring to keep the matter secret. During the week-end delegates met to complete arrangements. They expect all unemployed in and \ about the city to leave their jobs to participate. No City Council permit is required for the demonstration. ' % GROUPS TO REPORT • , 1 i. The following, groups will report for work with the Reserves. Department at 8 a.m. to-day:— -v- v 369t—Mornington football ground. 229 —Rest Home, Roslyn'.