MORE EMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 22758, 7 December 1935, Page 4

MORE EMPLOYMENT

NEW SOUTH WALES FIGURES. REPORT BY BELIEF COUNCIL. Sydney, November 21. A large reduction in the numbers of unemployed in New South Wales during the 12 months ended June 30 was disclosed in the annual report of the Unemployment Relief Council, tabled in Parliament recently. On June 30 the registered unemployed totalled 60,000, of whom 41,958 were employed on relief works. The unemployed numbered 200,000 on June 30, 1932, and 85,000 on June 30, 1934. The report stated that £2,819,179 had been paid by the Treasury for emergency relief works, for wages of the men employed, and the 10 per cent, allowance made to the councils to meet costs of materials and transport.. Many councils secured loans amounting to £122,086, to cover cost of materials. In addition to these loans, the councils had obtained about £150,000 in loan money for ordinary local works.. Substantial amounts were disbursed in advances to settlers and building relief loans. About 2000 men had been provided for in afforestation work. Another important change, added the report, was the decision of the Government to finance the construction of bigger drainage and other works from a special expenditure loan vote of £1,750,000 in the Public Works Department estimates. From the vote the department had expended £1,480,000 during the year, including £1,114,865 on drainage works, £196,179 on country towns’ water supply, and sewerage schemes, £74,237 on roads and bridges, £62,225 on public buildings, and £30,471 on harbours and rivers. During the last three years a total of £14,808,237 in grants and loans had been allocated. During last year £495,503 had been allocated in loans and £3,400,063 in grants. For the four weeks ended July 6 last, the food relief orders issued totalled 66,055, valued at £70,171, compared with 412,038 orders, valued at £374,528, for the corresponding period in 1932.