UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18819, 6 March 1931, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE.

MEETING LAST EVENING. FUTURE POLICY WANTED. A meeting of the South Canterbury : held^ Council Chambers g:Le^Vc^ r p:| r VM. inglis, H. G. Naylor, C E. Kerr, Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., and Mr G. for the unavoidable absence of Mr K. McKenzie and the Rev. H. T. Peat. The secretary reported that tne Borough Councils, c ° u “ ty t< j and the Hospital Board had come to the aid of the Committee in a wonderful way. Speaking with reference to the matter of absorbing unemployed Mr McKessar said a call for work had been made last evening, and there were a few blanks In the ranks of those entitled to work under the ”?• ® Scheme, and who were required to report for duty this morning. It was possible that these men were in town, but they were not present when the call was made, and the quota needed was ten men short. The number of men unemployed last week was 484 in Timaru, and on Monday last it was 533. Of this total, a number had been absorbed by Geraldine, and were working under the No. 5 Scheme. Last week 180 men had been provided with work, and although the figures had not been made up this week the number engaged would be considerably more than that. Mr McKessar said there were one or two matters which he had brought under the notice of the Unemployment Commissioner, which he thought would help to clear the air. A question had been raised at their last meeting relative to the position of young men 20 years of age and under. It had been stated definitely that these mert could not be employed under the No. 5 Scheme, but could be sent out on to farms under the No. 4A Scheme. So far as this latter scheme was concerned they had only been able to place about ten men on farms. The fact was that these young men were not required to register under the Unemployment Act. He had also put another case to the Commissioner, which was in connection with the payment for work done which, under ordinary circumstances, would be paid for at award rates. This , instruction had been previously given by the Board, and it meant that, in the case of the Timaru Borough Council, 1 it could employ carpenters not working under an award at the rate of 13/per day, whereas general labourers ’ bound by an award would have to be ! paid 15/4 per day. Mr McKeessar said

this was a somewhat anomalous position, and he had pointed out to the Commissioner that under Section 155 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1925, there was provision that any award should not affect public bodies in respect of relief work. The Commissioner had replied that the Unemployment Board really was not paying subsidies in respect of wages at 14/per day, and there was no intention that local bodies should pay award rates in cases where awards were not applicable. The instructions were not intended to be carried out as literally as they had been given. Mr McKessar said another letter had been sent to the Commissioner pointing out that it had been stated that the rates of pay fixed by the Board were not being carried out generally, and he was asked for information on the subject. The Commissioner had replied asking for specific instances, and a reply had been sent to the effect that it had been mentioned at one or two of the meetings of the Committee. Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P.: “Yes, I quoted from a newspaper.” Mr McKessar said the Commissioner had written further that in cases where men had not been able to get in four days’ work in one week on account of rain, the time might be made up

during the coming week, and this time must be accompanied by a special voucher showing the reason. Mr McKessar stated that he desired to congratulate Mr Mather on the practical assistance he had given the Committee in respect of explaining the No. 4A Scheme to farmers. It was hoped as a result of Mr Mather’s efforts to get some of the young men into employment.

The Mayor reported that since last meeting the Borough Council had agreed to the Waimataitai drainage being put in hand. Correspondence was received from the Unemployment Board relative to the resolutions passed by the Timaru Borough Council at its last meeting relative to local bodies receiving due notice before fresh schemes were presented to them. It was pointed out that the various schemes put in hand by the Board had been purely emergency measures, and that the representations made by the Council would receive the careful consideration of the Board. The Mayor said there was just a possibility of the Board considering the question of supplying the material required by local bodies when finding work for the relief of the unemployed. He said it was also satisfactory to know that men who had not registered under the unemployment scheme could get work, provided they paid their levy from their first pay. Mr Kennedy reported that the Board’s efforts for coping with the various phases of the problem of unemployment were much appreciated in the Geraldine district. All eligible registered men had been provided with work done under Scheme 5, and two farmers had been supplied with a man each under Section 4a, one undertaking to provide work for 16 weeks and the other for 26 weeks. People were slow to take advantage of the subsidy offered under No. 2 Scheme until the time arrived to discontinue it. Commitments entered into were being carried out and work provided for six men. The work of the Committee had been facilitated by the cooperation prevailing between the Borough and County Councils, as evidenced by the interchange of plant and tools required for different works that were being carried out. In fulfilment of the promise made at the last meeting, work had been provided for the men sent out from Timaru during the last two weeks. The offer was made on the understanding that Timaru would provide transport, tools, and tents for the men. Transport had been discontinued owing to the price charged (£6/10/-). It seemed unfair that the men should now have to pay for transport each week in view of the undertaking to provide it. However, they were so pleased to have the opportunity to work that they had paid for transport this present week 2/6 each out of their meagre earnings. Their work had been satisfactory, and the fact that all of them who were given the chance went out again, was an indication that they wanted the work. The nature of the work provided in the borough had been roadmaking, clearing reserves, and cleaning reservoirs, etc., while in the county attention has been given to cutting and clearing willows from riverbeds and gorse, broom, etc. from the County Council's reserves. The Geraldine

County Council was to be commended for the manner in which It set out to provide work for the unemployed. From February 14 to 28 the men employed in the Geraldine Borough had collectively worked 337 days and £352/0/1 had been paid in wages. in the Geraldine Riding of the county 172 days had been worked and £IIL io_ - earned in wages. In the Riding 384 days had been worked and wages amounting to £lB4 12/ - paid. The Geraldine district was congratulated upon its effort to relieve unemployment. . . _ Mr Kerr said that owing to being faced with a shortage of £3OOO in rates, and also on account of the Highway works in progress, the Levels County regretted not having been able to arrange any relief works up to the present. He enumerated a number of works which could be put in hand at a later stage, and which would absorb a good number of unemployed. Mr Foote raised the point that something should be done for young men of 20 years and under. It was explained that these came under No. 4a scheme, and that the Board would pay the wages of this class as soon as they could be placed with farmers. Mr Kerr brought up the question of the Committee ascertaining what attitude the Board would take to a proposal that it find £I4OO interest and sinking fund for three years on the cost of erecting the remaining portion of the new hospital. He pointed out that if this work could be gone on with it w'ould mean absorbing a considerable number of unemployed. Another point was that, by going on with the work now, a saving of something like £6OOO would be effected in the cost. He moved that the Board be asked to find the interest and sinking fund for a period of three years. Mr Naylor seconded the motion. After some discussion, it was decided that the motion be amended to read “that the Board be asked to find the interest and sinking fund, or as an alternative that it be asked to subsidise the labour employed on the Job, as in the case of relief works.” This w r as agreed to, Mr Foote voting against It on the ground that the question should first be submitted to the Hospital Board.