FORM U.B.32 DISTRIBUTED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 4

FORM U.B.32 DISTRIBUTED

POSITION AT NEW PLYMOUTH ffO BE RETURNED BY WEDNESDAY. PUBLIC MEETING ON MONDAY. Inquiries made yesterday disclosed the fact that the U.B. 32 questionnaires have been issued to all relief workers at New Plymouth through the local bodies by which they are employed. The forms must be filled in and returned to the Labour Department by Wednesday.

Objection to the questions on the form have been made by relief workers in various parte of the Dominion. At Wanganui recently a large meeting decided to send a telegram to the Unemployment Commissioner demanding an equal allocation with the four main centres before signing the form.' The commissioner subsequently replied that any refusal to fill in the form would result in the workers so doing being denied relief work until they did so. Asked what the position of those failing to sign the form at New Plymouth would be, Mr. C. P. Smith, of the Labour Department, said the form must be filled in by persons desiring to obtain relief work after next week. The relief workers’ section of the New Plymouth General Labourers' Union recently protested against the form, and it was suggested that many of those concerned might refuse to answer the questions. It is understood, however, that no definite action locally has yet been decided on by the relief workers’ section. The section is calling a public meeting on Monday night to discuss the form, and it will not be till after that that the section members will decide the line they will take.

The particulars required on the form are first of all the name and address of the applicant for unemployment relief work. He next hag to state whether he is single, married, divorced, separated or widowed, and the amount of alimony or other usual contribution or maintenance order he has to pay. Usual occupation, length of residence in New Zealand, age, number of coupon book and date to which levy is paid are all asked for, and the applicant is required to say whether he has been registered elsewhere, and if so where. "Are you willing to accept camp work if called upon?” is one of the questions requiring an answer, and particulars are sought as to name, relationship, age and birthday of all the members of the applicants family dependent on him, special divisions on the form being reserved for those who are living at home and those away from home, Details are algo sought of the earnings of applicant and members of his family employed at any time during the last six months, including earnings from any form of relief work. These details include the name and address of the employers, nature of work, date ceased, total earnings, and weekly payment by each member to household expenses. Under the heading of income (not wages) of applicant and his family during the past six months the applicant is asked to' give his and his family’s receipts from pension, superannuation, etc., family allowance, lodge or benefit society, boarders (not members of family), rooms let, sale of milk, cream, fruit or other produce, and interest on savings, fixed deposits, or other investments. Particulars are required of the assets of applicant and his family, including the amount in the Post Office Savings Bank, other banks, building societies, shares, bonds, etc,, or elsewhere held (including cash). Regarding any property owned by applicant he is required to give details of any mortgages, weekly cost, and rental received.

Under the heading "general information” the applicant is asked to state the amount of his weekly rental, and when it is paid' up to. This.is followed by the ensuing questionnaire: Is your land fuhy used for vegetable-growing? Are yoti a returned soldier? If so, state Regimental No. Are you fit for labouring work? If not, state disability. Have you or any member of your family a motor-cycle or vehicle? If so, State registration number. Are you eligible for old age pension? Is your wife eligible for old age pension? Do you engage in intermittent work? If so, state nature.

Finally the applicant is required to sign the following statement: “I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoing particulars are true and correct I know and realise that in the event of my knowingly supplying false information I render myself liable to a fine of £2O, and shall be denied any form of relief by the Unemployment Board.”