THE UNEMPLOYED

Southland Times, Issue 22011, 10 May 1933, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED

FUNDS BALANCED GIFTS OF BOOTS IN WINTER BOARD’S DECISION (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 9. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) stated to-day that Cabinet had devoted much time and thought to the question of unemployment, and had recently discussed the position with the Unemployment Board. He was' pleased to say that with careful administration, the board had been able to keep the funds balanced. The receipts from the unemployment tax and the levy for the year ended March 31 last amounted to £4,058,000, which with £74,000 carried forward from the previous year, made a total of £4,132,000 available for relief. Commitments paid or estimated to fall due for payment within the same period were £3,970,000, which left a balance of £162,000, consisting of £74,000 brought forward from last year and a credit balance of £BB,OOO for the year’s working. This balance would be needed to meet any increased allocations which might be required on account of additional unemployment registrations, which invariably occurred during the winter months. The subject of providing relief workers with the necessaries of life had been discussed, said Mr Forbes, and the board would shortly announce a scheme for the supply of boots, which it was hoped to make an extra item without reducing the present" weekly allowances. This would probably be done.. by the men working an extra day for a pair. of boots. An endeavour would also be made to supply other necessaries in a similar way. The manufacturing of the boots would be left largely to the ordinary trade, and would give boot operatives out of work a chance of employment. The board was giving attention to assisting industries' to enable them to cany on and employ, if possible, additional staffs. It was hoped that the Public Works, Forestry and Lands Departments would be able to provide assistance, but it was not yet possible to state the amount of money they would have available. It was hoped to push ahead the small farm scheme. SUITABLE WORKS LOCAL BODIES MEET. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 9. Representatives of local bodies in Wellington and its environs met to-day to discuss proposals for the relief of unemployment. A. previous conference was adjourned to enable the bodies concerned to prepare a list of suitable works. . These were submitted to-day and revised by the meeting to include treeplanting and various road works, including the' construction of a section of highway and the shortening of the main north road near Plimmerton. It was decided by all present to form a deputation to the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan) urging that the jobs be undertaken. OUTSIDE EARNINGS ADDITIONAL INCOME ALLOWED. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 9. An announcement that relief workers would be allowed to earn amounts varying from 10/- to something less than £1 a week from outside sources, without having the amount of their relief pay or rations reduced, was made by the Minister of Employment (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) when he met a deputation representing the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Association. The Minister said that on the question of maximum earnings it was difficult to make definite rules without considering individual cases on their merits, but the board had adopted a general rule that if a worker earned 10/- a week regularly or a day’s pay of, say, 12/6, neither his allocation nor his rations would be cut, unless other factors came into it. This would apply to similar earnings made by his wife. It was not the desire of the board to discourage the unemployed from seeking additions to their incomes. If, however, both husband and wife earned 10/-, that would mean an extra £1 a week coming into the home, in which case some deduction would be made in the relief given. If this was not done, the board would not have as much money to spend on those who could not make extra money. If both husband and wife managed to earn something casually, no notice would be taken of it, even if this happened three weeks running, but if it went on for a month the position would have to be considered.