BONUS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1935, Page 7

BONUS FOR UNEMPLOYED

EFFECT OF PAY INCREASE EXTRA WORK NOT NOW REQUIRED. SPECIAL WINTER RELIEF STEP. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, July 13. In an interview to-day, the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Employment, referring to his recent announcement that from July 1 scheme 5 and the sustenance weekly relief rates would be increased by 2s for single men and 3s for married men, stated that owing to varying conditions in many parts of the Dominion if had become apparent to the Unemployment Board that serious administrative difficulty attended the putting into effect of this decision and consequently the matter had been occupying the attention of the board at a meeting extending ovex* the past few days. “The board has now decided,” stated the Minister, “to convert this increase as from July 1, int <> a free bonus, for which work in return will not be required. This bonus, which is to be regarded as a special relief measure to alleviate hardship during the winter, will be paid to every relief worker who is or becomes eligible for and receives rationed relief work or sustenance under scheme 5.” The Minister stated that a large number of men had already worked extra time in order to qualify for the payment of the increase and now, owing to its conversion into a bonus, such men would within the next few weeks be granted pay without work for a period equivalent to the extra time so worked. The Minister also referred to the recent controversy regarding the principle of allowing scheme 5 employing authorities to work men to the nearest half-day below their allocation instead of requiring them to work the full number of hours represented by their allocation. In explanation of this he stated that previously where working time did not fit evenly into half-days the employing authorities were permitted at their discretion to arrange for men to work to the nearest half-day below their allocation.

“The board has now decided that this concession can generally be adopted by local bodies as the board appreciates that in many cases it is unreasonable to require relief . workers to proceed to jobs for an hour or two when they might more profitably be engaged in exploring avenues, of private employment,” said Mr. Smith. “Then again the difficulties may not be confined to the transport of men to and from jobs, and the added concessions now indicated should make it possible for a more general application of the principle. “Generally speaking,, employing. authorities will be authorised to apply the concession to the fullest degree with the exception only of those cases where insuperable difficulties exist. “The board has also given attention to the question of the private earnings or other private income allowable and has decided to increase the present scale by allowing a worker to earn from private sources a further 5s a»week before any reduction is made in his relief allocation.”