MORE CONCESSIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18758, 15 July 1935, Page 8

MORE CONCESSIONS

RELIEF CONDITIONS INCREASE AS BONUS PRIVATE EARNINGS (Pur PrflßS Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In an interview today the Minister of Employment, the lion. S. G. Smith,' referring to his recent, announcement, that its from July 1 scheme No. 5 and sustenance weekly relief rates would be increased by 2s "for single men and js for married men, stated that owing to the varying conditions in many parts of the Dominion, it became apparent lo the Unemployment Hoard that serious administrative difficulty attended the putting into effect of this decision, and consequently the matter had been occupying the attention of the board at a meeting extending over tlm past few days. The. board has now decided, stated the 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 be regarded as a special relief measure to alleviate hardship during the winter, will be paid to 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 the increase, and now, owing to its conversion into a bonus, such men would within the next few weeks he 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 of preparation, and will be issued to certifying officers and employing authorities at an early date. The Minister also referred to the recent controversy regarding the principle of allowing scheme No. 5 employing authorities to work men to the nearest half-day below their allocation, instead of requiring them to work I lie lull number of hours represented by their allocation. In explanation of this, he stated that previously where the working time did not Jit evenly into half-days, the employing authorities were permitted, id their discretion, to arrange for the men lo work to the nearest half-day below their allocation. The hoard had now decided that this concession can goner. :dly be adopted by local bodies, as the board appreciates that in many cases it is unreasonable lo require relief workers to proceed to jobs for an hour or two when they might, more profitable 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 ifie added concessions now indicated should make it possible for a more general application of the principle. Gihierally speaking, employing authorities will be authorised to apply the concession to tho fullest degree, with the exception only of those eases where insuperable difficulties exist. Tho board has also given attention to the question of private earnings, or other private* income allowable, and lias 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.