SUSTENANCE MEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20105, 11 May 1935, Page 18

SUSTENANCE MEN

LETTER TO MINISTER The following letter has been sent by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) as chairman of the. Timaru Unemployment Committee, to the Minister of Employment (Hon. S. G. Smith): “At the last meeting of the Timaru Unemployment Committee, the representatives thereat were unanimous concerning the desirability of requiring sustenance men to report twice weekly at the Bureau and once weekly at the Post Office for their sustenance. It was considered that the present system gravely interfered with these men in’ obtaining casual work. I feel sure that you will agree with the committee in its contention that no obstacle whatever should be placed in the way of a relief worker obtaining casual work and it can by no means be considered that sustenance on its own is sufficient to enable these men to live. There may be reasons not disclosed or understood by the committee for the present system but we now ask you, sir, , to consider the possibility of granting the request now made. The committee feels sure that with your effi-c'-nt staff there is little or no likelihood whatever of imposition. The following resolution was carried unanimously: ‘That a letter be sent to the Honourable, the Minister of Employment, stating the committee’s objections to relief workers on sustenance having to report twice weekly at the Employment Bureau and requests that this disability be removed and that they be allowed to report once weekly.’ “i wish to take this opportunity of congratulating you on accepting the portfolio of employment and I assure you that the Timaru Unemployment Committee has always acted fairly towards the Unemployment Board and your predecessors and it is hoped that our future relations with you will be equally pleasant.”