UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19122, 17 September 1936, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

SETTLEMENT ON LAND STEADY PROGRESS MADE (Pari innnuil ary Repm-l.nr.) WELLINGTON, this day. During the year steady progress was made with the' development of the areas acquired by the small farms for settlement under the provisions of the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act, 1932-33, stated the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in the House of Representatives to-day. The cottages erected during the 12 months numbered 49, tlie average, cost, of each being £2Bl, as against £241 last year. This increase could be attributed to the increased cost of building materials. Throughout, the year the number of workmen employed on the development work on the blocks remained fairly constant. The following summary showed the expenditure under tlie vote, and the results for the year Capital expenditure ... £146,480 Number of sections under development, and area 583; 48,689 ac. Number of share milkers established 5 Number of men employed on development 1246 FURTHER £425,000 VOTE

A further £425,000 is being voted this year for the settlement of unemployed workers, an increase from £350,000 voted last year. Actually only £215,702 was spent last year, and the total set down lor expenditure this year is £576,000, including the use of £151,000 of credits in hand.

Tlie main requirements tire set out as under, the totals spent last year being given in parentheses: —

Advances to small-farm occupiers, £60,000 (£43,625); advances under share - milking agreements, £1,500 (£889); development-expenditure on land, £145,000 (£105,575); live stock and chattels for blocks being developed, £25,000 (£20,130); purchase and lease of land, £50,000 (£44,018); seasonal expenditure on blocks being temporarily farmed, £7,500 (£1,247); travelling expenses and other administration charges, £SOO (£40); wages, development and seasonal expenditure, £286,000; contingencies, £SOO (£178;.