ALLOCATIONS OF RELIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1934, Page 9

ALLOCATIONS OF RELIEF

DOMINION SCALE REQUESTED TARANAKI MAYORS’ SUGGESTION. EQUALITY IN RELIEF WANTED. MINISTER DEFENDS PRESENT PLAN.

Taranaki Mayors met at Eltham yesterday to consider the reply of the Minister of Employment (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) to the representations made at. a previous conference of Taranaki Mayors in regard to relief allocations.. The Minister’s reply stated that their representations had been fully considered and he asked them to accept the Unemployment Board’s assurance that centres in Taranaki Were receiving their proportionate quota of the funds available and these were distributed on what the board considered was the most equitable basis, practicable. The letter continued: “Our problem is to allocate the funds in such a manner as will afford the greatest measure of assistance where pre-determined local conditions warrant this - course, and naturally the .varying needs of centres have to be taken into consideration in a similar manner to those of individuals, and some preference has to be given where the degree of necessity is relatively greater.’ You will admit that this is the most equitable basis of distribution and for this reason as well as for financial reasons it would be neither possible nor desirable to extend the city scale of relief to country districts. “With reference to your comments regarding the allocation of funds under No. 10 building scheme, I have to state that the general effect of this scheme is that it releases more money than it absorbs, and for this reason the board feels justified in the subsidy being made available.” DISSATISFACTION AT REPLY. The chairman (Mr. 1. J. Bridger, Eltham) considered that the reply was not very satisfactory as it did not get the conference any further, and he had in consequence again convened the conference to consider the matter. Mr. Bridger contended that the objections raised by the conference had not been answered and the board did -not appear to be seeking the co-operation of the Mayors and relief committees in New Zealand. This was to be regretted as it militated against the smooth working of the board’s schemes. The differentiation in payments in the various districts appeared to cause a great deal of dissatisfaction among the unemployed. There was little encouragement for committees to function, Mr. Bridger said, and he believed the conference should make some definite recommendation to the board ,to stabilise the allocations to the men, who should receive a definite sum each week. The allocation at Eltham for a married man with two children or under was £1 5s a week for three weeks in the month. Mr. Bridger suggested that each man receive £1 2s 6d a week for every week in the year, making the monthly allowance £4 10s for three days’ work a week. That was really a sustenance allowance. Married men with three children or more should receive a greater amount. Mr. J. E. Campbell (Hawera) said he also was disappointed at the Minister’s reply and he thought, they should continue to press for the equalisation of. relief so that there should be no discrimination between city and country workers. He quoted figures to show that there was even discrimination between the amounts paid to men at Hawera and at New Plymouth. He did not suggest that the latter were receiving too much, but rather that the Hawera rates should be levelled up and town and country allocated on the same basis. He supported the suggestion that each class should receive an equal amount a week, irrespective of where it lived. INCENTIVE DESTROYED. Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour (New Plymouth) said he was in accord with the previous speakers. He thought it was unfair to penalise men who earned a little extra work over and above the amount allowed by the board. The men were allowed to ’earn only a maximum wage in a month .and this destroyed all incentive for them to help themselves. A motion was carried on the motion of Mr. Campbell seconded by Mr. Gilmour: “That this conference of Taranaki Mayors respectfully suggests to the Unemployment Board that it evolve a scheme, not on the basis of an-allocation, but on a set sum per man each week, the same to apply throughput the Dominion.” ,■ It was .also decided to recommend to the board the following scale of payments in conformity with the previous resolution: Single men, £2 a month; married men with up to two children, £4 10s; married men with three or more children, £6. There were present the Mayors of New Plymouth, Hawera, Eltham and Inglewood. Apologies were received from the Mayors of Stratford, Waitara and Patea. Mr. Bridger suggested that the Mayors of Taranaki should form themselves into an association and meet quarterly. This would in no way detract from the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, which was an excellent and useful institution.

Mr. Campbell said he was against adding to the existing number of associations, but there was nothing to prevent the mayors attending meetings of the local bodies’ association to meet in conference the same day. It was decided to ask the secretary of the local bbdies’ association to arrange for a meeting of the Mayors of Taranaki on the day of the association’s meeting, the Mayor of Eltham to be convener.