SUSTENANCE TO BE PAID

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 5

SUSTENANCE TO BE PAID

HIGHER SCALE FOR CITIES By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. July 25. The Hon. Adam Hamilton (Minister of Unemployment) in the House of Representatives, made a statement in reference to the sustenance paid to relief workers where suitable work is not available. The Minister said: “The Unemployment Board had been loath to adopt the sustenance principle, especially in a country such as ours, where the employing authorities might make good use of. the money and labour available. The Board has been gradually testing the principle of relief by means of sustenance without work in a few of the main centres and, although sustenance without work may be as badly abused as any other system, there seems to be no escape from this form of payment. The Board has concluded that sustenance rates might reasonably be increased for a limited period. Trend of Public Opinion. “Public opinion at the moment generally appears in favour of increasing the sustenance rates, rather than a reduction of the tax. It is further considered that these increased rates can be applied to certain classes of relief workers without undue danger. When considering further payments to relief workers, the Board has to keep in mind the much desired reduction in unemployment taxation. It is hopeful that before the session ends, it will be possible to recommend a measure of relief from taxation in hardship cases. Relief to Local Bodies. “By increasing the payments for sustenance without work to substantially the same amount as paid under Scheme 5 with work and by placing the older men and semi-fit men on the sustenance rate, it is anticipated that relief will be given to local bodies who are finding it difficult to organise suitable work and to reduce their financial burden for overhead charges. It should also ensure that the remainder of the men will be employed in better work under better supervision. The difficulty experienced by local bodies in finding suitable work has not been confined to the four main centres. Some of the secondary cities, Palmerston North for instance, are experiencing the same trouble. Scale for Secondary Centres. “The Board has arranged the following sustenance scale for the secondary centres. These rates will be payable when suitable w r ork cannot be found, and will be confined to the older men and semi-fit men. They also will be subject to the usual adjustments in regard to private earnings. The rates are: Single men 7/6 a week; married men with wife only 17/6; with one child 20/6; with two children 23/6; with three children 25/-; with four children 27/-; with five or more children 30/-. Rates for Cities. The following are the proposed amended sustenance rates for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin: Single men 10/-; married men with wife in receipt of old age pension 17/6; married men with wife only 20/-; with one child 23/-; with two children 26/-; with three children 28/-; with four children 30/-; with five children 32/-; with six children 34/-; with seven or more children 36/-. “The milk ration in the four main cities will be continued during the winter months.

“The problem of unemployment as regards administration is rapidly changing from day to day. The Board is not proposing to commit itself to these rates for more than 13 weeks, in order that it may check up on the results. It is also proposed as soon as conveniently possible to raise all married men’s camps to full-time employment at standard rates of pay, as now operating in such camps controlled by the Public Works Department.”

TRIAL SCHEME FOR CERTAIN CASES