ABSORBING UNEMPLOYED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3927, 16 July 1937, Page 4

ABSORBING UNEMPLOYED

WAIKATO LOCAL BODIES. MINISTER’S SCHEME ACCEPTED. More than 40 representatives of local bodies assembled in Hamilton last evening to meet the acting-Min-ister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who invited their co-operation in an. effort to absorb as many unemployed men as possible under the new schema formulated by the department. Mr Webb said it was an unusual thing for a Minister to tour the country offering local bodies free money, but there was a surplus of £300,000 in the unemployment fund, and the Government wanted to find work for 7000 men for four months at standard rares of pay, which would be met from this surplus. The Minister said he did not want to see a man out of work while there was money available. There were 100 men capable of doing good work out of the 370 on die unemployed list between Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Otorohanga. The Government was prepared to give these men work for four months at £4 a week. Mr Webb realised that wages did not form the whole item of expense involved in employing men, and that the local bodies, whose co-operation was sought, would have to supply supervision, tools, transport and the difference between £4 a week and the award rates, if any. After the Minister had addressed the gathering, he invited representatives to make known their wants in the way of labour needs to Mr W. Bromley, of the Labour Department, who was present, and immediate steps would be taken to supply men. Full advantage was taken of the Minister’s offer and work was found for all the men for whom there was money available.