WAGES ON RELIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

WAGES ON RELIEF

REQUEST FOR INCREASE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION WORKS FOR UNEMPLOYED BOARD STATEMENT ASKED By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Advocacy of an immediate increase in I’elief rates of pay for all grades of work for the unemployed by 10s weekly and continuance o£ that increase until schemes are devised for the absorption of the unemployed in works at standard rates of pay was the principal of several decisions concerning unemployment reached at the annual conference of the Municipal Association to-day. The subject was keenly debated. It was mentioned that the cost of giving increased pay of 10s weekly would be £300,000 yearly. It was also stated, and the statement was generally endorsed, that the Unemployment Board should produce a statement of its expenditure showing exactly how all its great income was used. Resolutions carried were as follows:— That the executive be instructed to go into the whole question of improving the conditions. of the unemployed by a scheme or schemes for providing work at standard rates of pay, the schemes to be financed partly by the local authorities and partly by the Unemployment Board,,' or in any other manner conceived, and that in the meantime the Unemployment Board be asked to increase the whges of all grades of relief workers by 10s a week.

That the Minister of Internal Affairs be urged to allocate the proceeds of art unions during the winter to the relief of distress. '■

That this conference recommends to the Government that unemployed men who are ill should on the production of medical certificates be supported from the unemployment funds. A. remit suggesting that the Government be again urged to abolish the No. 5 scheme and to use the money allocated to it for reproductive avenues ensuring full employment at standard rates of pay was- referred to the executive under the terms of the motion previously carried.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. C. O. Morse; vice-presidents, the Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin; additional executive committee, the Mayors of Timaru, Palmerston North, Ashburton, Hawera, New Brighton and Rotorua, the chairmen of the Papatoetoe and Havelock North Town Boards and Mrs. Jj A. C. Allum, representing the transport boards. , ■' > ■