UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17440, 11 December 1930, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

THE BOARD'S ACTIVITIES FIRST £25,000 GONE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The sum of £25,000 allocated by the Unemployment Hoard for subsidies to local bodies on a basis of £2 for £l. lias been exhausted, according to an official statement made to-day.

It is hoped that this sum, with the amounts to be provided by the local bodies,.will result in work being found for 2100 men throughout the Dominion between now and the end of next, month.

Tt is suggested that employment should be given in alternating periods, where necessary, so that men will be found at least a fortnight's work. The attention of the board is now being turned to a second scheme, under which it will subsidise wages up to 7s per dav on a £ for £ basis. Chief concern at the. moment is the formation of local committees and the hoard is particularly 'anxious that these bodies should be formed as soon as possible, as. it will' be through them that, the operation of this scheme will be. carried out. A large number of inquiries has'already been made for assistance, and it anpears that the second i)?5.000 set aside bv the board for this measure of Christmas relief will be as eagerly sought as was the first sum.

LOWER RATES OK PAY Apprehension has been expressed, in many quarters concerning the > liability of employers for compensation in tho case of accident to those men to whom they givo casual < employment. It appears that, if a casual employee is injured, the employer will be. liable ' for compensation. This will not prove a serious consideration to many who have insured against- accidents lo their employees, but it is natural that many persons who give a man work for a day or two 'in a. garden or in other casual employment will not bo protected. The question was discussed at to-d.ay's meeting of the board and it is expected that a satisfactory solution of Ihe problem will bo reached.

An appeal is being made to civic authorities to take the initiative in the formation of local committees, The board has emphasised that the assistance and co-operation of these, committees will be essential to the working of the second scheme. The board's subsidy will not exceed 7s per day in any one case, but the actual wages to be paid relief workers under the scheme will be a matter for mutual arrangement between Ihe employer and the employee. This means that, while it might be possible for an employer to pay a man 7s a day, so bringing the wages up to 14s per day, there will probably be others who will not bo able tr> do so. In that case, less will have to be accepted, but the opinion is that men

will be advised to accept temporary work at the lower- wages rather than make it impossible for employers to take them on at all by demanding high rates of pay.

FREE GRANT WANTED TOSITION IN DUNEDIN (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN. last night, At to-night's meeting of the City Council, it was decided that a, copy of the following resolution, which was carried, be sent to the Unemployment Board:—"That this council makes an emphatic protest against tho docision of the Unemployment Board to make no grant towards providing work for unemployed men here. The council can find, work for 100 men immediately, but it lias expended all its available funds for the present financial year. Unless a straight-out substantial grant is made there is no chance of any relief beingi given before Christmas." '., • ,

, - A NELSON COMPLAINT INFLUX OF RELIEF WORKERS (Per Press Association.) NELSON, last night; The Hon. W,* W. Snodgniss, M.L.C., has forwarded the following telegram to tho Hon. H. O. Smith", Minister of Labor: ''The position re unemployment here is extremely 'acute.- Fifty, ' local married men, 20 local'single' men, and 58 outside men are left here discharged from relief .works, and on the local register. Many are really .desperate, while 70'men have, been landed by- a steamer from Wellington in - the. last Hm'oo days proceeding to relief works. Surely our'local men, and your stranded relief men should have the first consideration. I hope you can do something to remedy, the position.".