UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 14 July 1937, Page 4

UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS

A CONTINUING PROBLEM R.S.A. SPENDS £1127 RELIEF AND SUBSIDIES A total of £1127 was expended by the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association during the year ended March 31, 1937, in general relief and in providing subsidies on wages earned in casual work by registered unemployed among the war veterans of the district. This information is conveyed in the annual report of the association, now in circulation. “Whilst it is true that the past year has seen considerable numbers of our unemployed members absorbed into public works activities and permanent situations, there are nevertheless about 150 ex-servicemen in the town and district without work, and dependent on sustenance or the war veterans’ allowance for the support of themselves and their families,” states the report.

“In view of the fact that many of these men are physically unfit to undertake even casual or even gardening work offering, a greater proportion of our relief has been disbursed by way of orders for groceries, clothing, firing, and other essential needs.

“This year .too, has seen the reappearance of a larger number of men on the road, attracted no doubt by the railway construction work, and assistance to these men has consumed a fairly large sum. It has still been possible, however, to augment that assistance given by subsidising private employers in casual work. “The sum of £576 14s lid has been expended by way of orders for groceries, firing, clothing, and board, and in cash grants in a few cases not covered by the order system. A total of 1070 casual jobs found for 16i men, and yielding 1753 days’ work, brought an aggregate sum of £1124 in wages to ex-servicemen through the association’s agency, the subsidies granted by the association representing £531. “For 122 days’ work, enjoyed by 52 men, the employers found full wages, while a fair number of returned soldiers and their sons and daughters were found work through the agency of the association.”