USE OF UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1935, Page 5

USE OF UNEMPLOYED

SCHOOL COMMITTEES DIFFER. CONDEMNATION OF THE SYSTEM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, August 15. A remit that school committees be granted the services of unemployed workers for the improvement and maintenance of school grounds led to the expression of widely divergent views at the annual conference of the Dominion Federation of school committees to-day. The motion was moved by Mr. C. R. H. Mackie, Canterbury. Mr. N. A. Ingram (Wellington) said no school district exploited the unemployed more than Canterbury, where men had been engaged on work which should have been paid for at full rates. He strongly opposed any movement by which such was possible. Mr. W. G. Black (Manawatu) said the federation should definitely oppose the remit. : The chairman, Mr. A. Roberts (Auckland) said that the No. 5 created unemployment, because local bodies had carried out works which should have been left till later. Mr. Mackie, in stating .that, he did not agree with the No. 5 scheme, thereupon withdrew the remit ' . After further discussion the following motion was carried: “That this conference deplores strongly and condemns the continuance, Of the use of unemployed labour for school ground improvements and maintenance, and makes the following recommendations: — “That all school committees in the Dominion be urged to refrain from utilising the services of men under the No. 5 scheme for work at school grounds. "That capitation grants be increased to permit of work on school grounds be'ing carried - out at the standard rates of pay. “That this conference is agreed that continuance of such a scheme as the No. 5 scheme is detrimental to the wellbeing of ths men themselves, and urges all school committees, home and school associations and associations to have the scheme discontinued."