SACRED DAYS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19759, 28 March 1934, Page 10

SACRED DAYS

ALLEGED DISREGARD UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD CRITICISED By Telegraph—Press Association THAMES, March 26. The Thames Ministers’ Association has forwarded a protest to the Commissioner of Unemployment against the board’s decision that men employed on certain specified relief schemes must work on Good Friday, and Anzac day or forfeit a day’s pay in each instance. “As spiritual leaders we are convinced,” says the Association, “that the board’s policy indicates a failure to appreciate the spiritual value to our nation of the widespread observance of Good Friday and Anzac Day. We fully recognise that its action is prompted by the need to conserve State funds, but we submit that the national saving will be more than offset by the spiritual loss due to the direct encouragement given to people to disregard outstanding sacred days which have an enormous significance to us all both as citizens and as Christians. If the board’s policy is persisted in it will ere long inevitably destroy all religious observance. From a high sense of obligation we earnestly urge the board to grant both holidays with pay to all men under its jurisdiction.” THE BOARD IN REPLY. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 27. It was learned on inquiry at the Unemployment Board office to-day that the decision to which reference is made in a Thames Press Association message to-day concerned workers under schemes 4A, 48, and 4D (farming), schemes 7 (assistance to boys on farms) scheme 11 (rabbit destruction) and gold prospectors working under schemes 5 and 8 A. The same arrangement applied in respect to Good Friday and Anzac Day last year. A telegram has been sent to Thames stating that apparently there has been a misunderstanding with regard to the payment of subsidised miners at Easter and on Anzac Day. The men are only required to work 40 hours a week which does not necessitate their working on the two days mentioned. It was explained that so far as the main No. 5 scheme was concerned the position was that men who would ordinarily be employed on Good Friday and Anzac Day would be paid for the holidays. The others would work on their usual days and would be paid accordingly.