RELIEF WORK

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 11

RELIEF WORK

ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT STATISTICS FOR YEAR Statistics relating to unemployment relief works carried out during tne year ended March 31, 1935, were contained in the annual report of the city engineer. These works (he stated) continue to employ about 105 men under the Works Department. The amount of wages, provided from the Unemployment Fund, spent during the year, was £6958 13/6. The work done was principally the straightening of the Otepuni Creek through the East End Park, East End Park road (Lindisfarne road), tidying street flanks, and drainage in Otatara Reclamation. • The first portion of the new drainage scheme for the relief of the Avenal, Wellesley Area and Harewood Area was started. New culverts at low level were constructed through the Railway at Arthur Street and Avenal Road and the drains to the east of the railway were relaid to take advantage of the new outlets. It is hoped that the work out to the Estuary will be continued in 1935-36. This work was done as a subsidized scheme, the men being employed 40 hours per week at standard rates, and the Unemployment Board refunding about £1 10/- per week for each man. The cost of this work was £2lOl 4/11 out of which a subsidy of £244 10/- was paid. The cost to the Council of the work done under Scheme No. 5 was £2412 13/5 which, with wages of £6714 3/6 makes the total value of the work £9126 16/11. The cost to the Council was therefore 26.4 per cent. Relief works occupy a disproportionate amount of time for the staff—out of all relation to the size of the works. The short weekly times worked, the frequent special arrangements as to holidays, and the constant change of personnel all involve very great labour. The following figures give an idea of the constant change going on:— Percentage of total.

Number of men who been have employed for periods up to 1 79.5 year Number of men who 668 have been employed between 1 and 2 years 131 15.5 Number of men who have been employed between 2 and 3 years 34 4.0 Number of men who have been employed between 3 and 4 years 10 1.0 843 100.0 Of the men at present employed:— Per Cent 36 have been erpployed less than 1 year 41.5 21 have been employed between 1 and 2 years 24.0 15 have been employed bebetween 2 and 3 years 17.5 8 have been employed between 3 and 4 years 9.0 7 have been employed over 4 years 8.0 87 100.0