SUSTENANCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3842, 4 December 1936, Page 7

SUSTENANCE

£1 A WEEK FOR SINGLE MEN. EXTRA 6s WEEKLY FOR MARRIED MEN. BONUS FOR CHRISTMAS. Sustenance rates have been increased by the Government to the extent of 3s a week for single men and 6s weekly for married men. The Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, announced that the increases would operate as from last Monday. The increase means that the scale of rates will be altered as follows: rates will be altered as follows:

“The Government,” said Mr Armstrong, “is exploiting, and will continue to exploit, every possible avenue likely to afford full-time work at standard rates. The Public Works Department has embarked upon an extensive programme of work and has thus been instrumental in absorbing a large number of men beyond its normal requirement. Special inducements have been offered to local bodies to encourage the accelerated commencement of large undertakings on a full-time basis, while the striking success of the placement scheme in placing over 15,000 men in private employment for varying terms shows that the Government has left no stone unturned in its efforts to secure the rehabilitation of those unfortunately unemployed. A recent Government caucus considered ways and means of promoting still further employment, and this work will be continued by a Cabinet committee specially appointed for that purpose.

“It is fitting to state here that the Government expects and requires that every able-bodied man who is offered work at standard rates and under reasonable conditions shall accept that offer, failing which hoi will be regarded as voluntarily unemployed and therefore undeserving of Government assistance in any shape or form. CHRISTMAS BONUS. “A Christmas bonus of £1 for women and single, men and £2 for married men will this ye>ar be granted to those who actually qualify for and receive relief in respect of the week ending December 5 netxt. The bonus will be available to men on sustenance or employed on a rationed basis under Scheme 5; to gold prospectors, including those employed on developmental work (other than those in fulltime work at standard rates of pay.) The bonus will also be paid to those working on their own property under Scheme 4a. to sustenance recipients under the Small Farm Plan, and to eligible, intermittent workers. It will be observed that the bonus is less than paid last year, but it is considered that no exception can be taken to this in view of the substantional improvements earlier effected in relief rates generally. “Two weeks’ paid holiday will be granted in respect of the weeks ending December 26 and January 2 to thosd of the following classes who would normally be entitled to relief during these weeks: (a) Men in receipt of sustenance or employed on a rationed basis under Scheme 5; (b) gold prespectors employed under Scheme 15, including those on developmental work, but excluding those employed for 49 hours or more a week at standard rates of pay. “Where men are employed by local authorities for full time at standard rates of pay the usual subsidy from the Employment Promotion Fund will be provided in respect of the abovementioned two weeks, provided, however that the local authority grants the holiday and pays its proportion of the usual wages. Where Scheme 5 relief wages are supplemented by the local authority to at least the nearest half-day above the weekly allocation, the usual subsidy will be provided during the holiday period irrespective of whether the local authority is prepared to supplemant the pay of the men concerned. WILFUL MISREPRESENTATION. “It is with deep regret that I must refer to the fact that a considerable number’ of cases of wilful misrepresentation with a view to securing relief benefits still occur. In view of this practice, I am left with no alternative but to direct that drastic action is to be taken against such men who are sufficiently unprincipled to secure under falsa pretences relief benefits which are provided by the community foi’ the benefit of those who are unfortunate enough to be unemployed and unable to make normal provision for their wives and children.”

£ s. d. £ s. d. Single man, from 0 17 0 to 1 0 0 Married man, from Married man with 1 0 0 to 1 15 0 one child, from Miji ried man with 1 13 0 to 1 19 0 two children, from Mai ried man with three children 1 17 0 to 2 3 0 from Mhrried man with 2 1 0 to 2 7 0 four children from Married man with 1 17 0 to 2 3 0 five children, from Married man with 2 9 0 to 2 15 0 six children, from Married man with seven children, 2 13 0 to 2 19 0 from 2 17 0 to 3 3 6