NO. 5 SCHEME.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20282, 17 April 1934, Page 4

NO. 5 SCHEME.

Usefulness Outlived, Says Councillor. APPEAL TO MINISTER. INVERCARGILL, April 16. Declaring that the No. 5 scheme for unemployment relief had outlived its usefulness, Mr L. A. Xiederer, a member of the Southland County Council, made a pica for its discontinuance at a conference to-day with the Minister for Employment (the lion Adam Hamilton) and the Minister for Public Works (the lion John Bitchener). In the course of his reply, Mr Hamilton admitted that other more satisfactory schemes were in operation, but he asked what was to be done with all the men at present working under the scheme who might not be absorbed by other systems of relief. Mr Hamilton said it was easier to condemn than to alter, and, although the board realised that there were better schemes, many difficulties presented themselves in effecting a change. He agreed that the 4b scheme had a great deal to commend it. Both Ministers met representatives of the Southland League and Motor Association in conference this evening In reply to a request for the completion of the Kingston-Queenstown Read. Mr Bitchener said that he would hu visiting Queenstown, and would then take the opportunity of going closely into the suggested undertaking. In regard to the Eglinton Road, he said much would depend on the report of the surveyors whether it would go on to Mil-ford. Mr J. Wesney, president of the Motor Association, said that they regarded the Eglinton Road as a national undertaking. Mr W. R. Haigh, speaking on behalf of the Motor Association, brought up the question of the diversion of highways funds for other purposes. He said that at the present moment, when motorists were paying the highest petrol tax in the world (lOid), it was a scandal that as small a sum as 23d was being spent on roads. Mr Bitchener said that he thought that roads -were in need of larger amounts being spent on them for their proper maintenance. Mr Hamilton said that he agreed that, as soon as the Government could restore the moneys to the Highways Board, it should do so, but there was sure to be a deficit this year, and they must help to reduce it in the meantime