ADMINISTRATION OF SUSTENANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 21

ADMINISTRATION OF SUSTENANCE

STRICTER REGULATIONS ADVOCATED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 10. At a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union it was decided to ask the Government that sustenance regulations and their administration be made stricter so that no sustenance be paid to men capable of performing labour and refusing to undertake work when it was offered to them. It was pointed out that during the present peak of farming operations there was a shortage of labour and it was felt that the position was rather absurd when -..blebodied men were receiving sustenance and farmers and others were called on for taxation to provide this money when they badly, needed assistance. Instances were given of men refusing to accept work they were quite capable of performing, preferring to accept sustenance. The executive unanimously passed the following remit: “That objection be lodged to mortgagors having to increase their mortgages 2 per cent, when transferred to the State Advances Corporation in order to obtain the corporation’s rate of interest, and to the contribution of 2 per cent, in addition to the mortgage, for new mortgages. It was stated that now that the State was solely responsible for bonds there was no need for additional security which really represented an unacknowledged capital contribution of 2 per cent, of the loan. The following remits were passed: “That the present iniquitous system of rating for hospital and charitable aid should be abolished.” “That revenue for tlie construction and maintenance of public hospitals, which constitute a national service, should be financed on a national basis.”