NO. 5 SCHEME DISCARDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18761, 18 July 1935, Page 12

NO. 5 SCHEME DISCARDED

BOROUGH COUNCIL ACTION CONCLUDES THIS MONTH UNANIMOUS DECISION The Borough Council last night dead ct(T to discard the NO. 5 scheme of employment, so far as general work is concerned, at- tire- end of the month. The decision was unanimous. Discussion on the matter was taken in committee, on the motion of Or. 11. E. Maude, seconded by Or. G. Bradley Smith. The Mayor, Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., did not agree that it was a matter which should fee discussed in commttee, for it was one on which the council should he given ,all possible information. First, the council heard a deputation representing the Unemployed Workers’ Movement. On .behalf of this organisation, a letter was submitted by the hon. secretary,, Mr It. Thorne, who stated that the deputationdesired to urge the discarding of No, » scheme labor on borough works and the support of the workers’ demands for a 10s per week increase to all unemployed. QUESTION OF TAX Mr C. S. Goodsott urged a IDs a week increase to all unemployed, sustenance men as -well as ot hers. It had been said that this would mean an increase in taxation, but the speaker said that all workers would ho only too willing to pay an extra wage tax if they were assured of a decent living during enforced periods of idleness. As for business people, they would benefit from the iucrease of money in circulation. If they could find some means of increasing consumption, they would be helping the way to prosperity. Urging the scrapping of the No. 5 scheme, Mr Goodson said that this scheme was aggravating the unemployment position. An unemployed man with a family was now entitled to etari. up to- £3 before being -penali-sed or belief work, but with work under the No. 5 scheme being done for local bodies, there was little chance of a nan earning up to £3. ' Much of the work was on the borderline of wfts-t might be termed necessary. Some of it might not be required for some year but why should it be done in advam by relief labor? Work such as bc-auti. lying might not be essential, but wen distinct assets to the; town. t The Mayor explained that lie im ..1 ready given norie-g to move for tin '"rboiitioiT of the .Nil, 'fi sth. pinch ahr

• invnig (nut dmeussum the represents 'lions'.-of the deputation wntfld Be considered. Will A T .RE UR E SENT AT iON •? Or. D, 8. Thompson: asked how man; -Inemployed, Mr Tlwirne repinwmedj Mr Thorne: There arc 400 on. tin books. Or. 11. H. DeCosta said that on a previous occasion an unemployed depu alion had been quite prepared'to work tinier the No. 5 scheme, but,later the • unemployed refused that work, Mr Thorne said that the Public Works Department was not prepared ,o do work on the No. 5 scheme. Mr Goodson said that like othei people the unemployed reserved its •igbt to change its mind, Or. BwHnell wished to know what backing the deputation had iu coming ■forward. Mr Goodson'said that, it was the policy of a national organisation. Cr. Bushnell said he wished to know what proportion of unemployed sent* the deputation along. Mr Thorne said that the action was decided on at a meeting on Monday right. Mr Goodson. said that the decision io send a deputation to the council was made at a committee meeting, but general meetings had frequently nTrrmed that view. Following, dismission of the matter in omniittee, Cr. J. It. Hall gave notice hi move at- the next meeting that the demands of the unemployed workers for an increase of 10 per cent, increase be: supported. He said that in agreeing to Ins, the council would Only be reiffnming a previous decision.