STRONG PROTEST

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 11

STRONG PROTEST

OAMARU COUNCIL UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY (Per United Press Association.) Oamaru, June 13. A vigorous protest was made tonight by the Oamaru Borough Council against the action of the Unemployment Board in putting local unemployed men on sustenance at a rate 3/less than that received on relief work. The whole of the councillors joined in the protest, it being contended that smaller towns were penalized in relief rates, compared with the cities, and of £50,000 collected in unemployment taxation in the Oamaru district, only £14,000 was spent in the district, so that over £30,000 went from Oamaru to help other-people’s unemployed. The board was accumulating funds in Wellington at the expense of the smaller towns and the men had a genuine grievance and many would be thrown on the depot. The Mayor (Mr M. F. Cooney) endorsed fully the remarks of the councillors and'stated that the action of the Government in placing men on sus--tenance at a lower rate was not only unfair, but inhuman, because they were putting men off at a time of the year when it was impossible to get other work. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes had stated the men were not going to receive pay without work, but the policy of the board had been reversed. The Government had bungled the question of unemployment and the chickens were now coming home to roost. He thought it cowardly for the Government to throw the responsibility on local bodies and the Government must accept the responsibility.