TWO NEW SCHEMES OF WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 7

TWO NEW SCHEMES OF WORK

SUBSIDISED FARM LABOUR.

ASSISTANCE WITH CONTRACTS.

Two further schemes which the Uriembloyment Board, has in view were mentioned in an address to local body engineer? and others in Waiiganui by Mr. P. J. Small, primary producers’ representative on the board. The first was being launched With the idea of inducing young men to work on farms and to minimise the expense of employment to farmers. The other was directed to cover contract work, such as .scrub cutting, gorse grubbing, biish felling and other farm work. The former scheme had been approved by Cabinet, but the other had “not, as yet, passed that stage. Accordingly, he could only refer to it in brief. The schemes would be known as No. 4A and No. 48.

Explaining the first, he said thkt it was intended to have it in operation by February 23, probably earlier. .The board proposed to arrange subsidies of las. a Week for single men i M 25 s. a week for married men taken to do farm work. The scheme would be open to farmers who had not put men off since December last. The scheme was aimed at assisting both the farmer and the employee. The same conditions would operate with regard to registration of men, and so forth, as were applied to other schemes launched by the oOayd. The men would be paid by the farmer the difference between their rate of pay and 15s. and an order on the nearest Government office for the subsidy would be given them. “It is the desire of the board to get as many single men aS possible on to the land,” Mr. Small proceeded, “It is a healthier life for them than hanging about the town. There have been cases where men, who have not had a penny to fly with, have worked on the land, paid their way, and are large land owners now. The board IS trying to re-create that sbrt of thing, to induce young men to try, by their effort, to save money and get a place of their oWn. We must get the men opt Where the earning power of this country comes from?’

Instancing the effect of the schemej Mr. Small qqoted two supposed capes. The first, of a faf flier paying 25?., the other 30s. Under the subsidy the former would be getting a single man for JOs. a wp?k and his keep, and the latter for 15s. a week and his keep. The speaker threw out strong hints that the board would not tolerate dismissals of permanent hands in order to get the benefit of this scheme. Dealing with Scheme 48, Mr. Small said that, whereas it was not yet through with the Sahctiori, of Cabinet, there was every reason to suppose that it would be pasted. There might be one or -two alteration? iu dritajls, so he would confine hjriiself to saying thfit on contract? up to £2OO the board proposed to subsidise Up to 33 1-3 percent. The period of the scheme would be for six months, and he knew that it would be availed of to a large extent, especially in the South Island.