MORE CONCESSIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18757, 13 July 1935, Page 6

MORE CONCESSIONS

RELIEF CONDITIONS INCREASE AS BONUS PRIVATE EARNINGS (Pel- Press Association.) WELLING TON, this day. j In an interview to-day the Minister of Employment, the lion. S. G. Smith, referring "to his recent announcement that as from July 1 scheme No. 5 and sustenance weekly rebel rates would be increased by 2s for single men and os lor married men. staled that owing to ihe varying conditions in many parts of tlic Dominion, it became apparent t*j the Unemployment. Board that serious administrative difficulty attended tiie putting into effect of this decision, and consequently the matter had been occupying the attention of the board at a meeting extending over the past Jew days. The -board lias now decided, slated tiie Minister, to convert this increase as from July 1 into a free bonus for which work in return will not be required. This bonus, which is to bo regarded as a special relief measure to alleviate hardship during the winter, will be paid io every relief worker who is, or becomes, eligible for and receives rationed relief work or sustenance under scheme No. 5.

The Minister stated that a- large number of men had already worked extra time in order to qualify for the payment of tiie increase, and now, owing to its conversion into a bonus, such men would within the next few weeks be granted pay without work for a period equivalent to the extra time so worked. Amending instructions to conform with the above decision are now in course oi preparation, and will be issued to certifying officers' and employing authorities at an- early date.

Tiie Minister' also referred to the recent controversy regarding the principle of allowing scheme No. 5 employing authorities to work men to tiie nearest half-day below their allocation, instead of requiring them to work the lull number of hours represented by i heir allocation.

In explanation of this, lie stated that previously where the working time did not lit evenly into half-days, the cm ploying' authorities were permitted, at their discretion, to arrange for the men to work - to the nearest half-day below their allocation. The board had now decided that this concession can goner, ally he adopted by. local bodies, as the hoard appreciates that in many cases it is unreasonable to require relief workers to proceed to jobs for an hour or two when they might more profitably I e engaged in exploring avenues of private employment. Then, again, the difficulties may not be confined to the transport of men. to .and from jobs, and the added concessions now indicated should make it possible for a more general application of the principle. GWiorally speaking, employing authorities will be authorised to apply too concession to the fullest degree," with the exception only,of those cases where .insuperable' difficulties exist.

The board has also given attention to Hie question of private earnings, or other private income allowable, and has decided to increase the present scale by allowing a. worker to earn from private sources a further 5s a week before any reduction is made in his relief allocation.'