CHILDREN OF SIXTEEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20298, 7 May 1934, Page 3

CHILDREN OF SIXTEEN.

Position in Regard to Amount of Relief.

A further endeavour to persuade the Unemployment Board not to reduce the amount of relief given to unemployed men with children over sixteen who are still attending school as a result of inability to secure employment will be made by the Christchurch Unemployment Committee. The question was brought up at this morning’s meeting of the committee when the Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr G. C. Godfrey) replied to a letter from the committee advising that no alteration could be made in the ruling that a dependent child was deemed to be a child under sixteen. It was decided that a deputation should wait on the Unemployment Board at the earliest opportunity to bring the matter up for consideration again. Mr Godfrey stated that he had noted the committee’s recommendation that in cases where a relief worker’s child had attained the age of sixteen j_nd was stili going to school, no reduction should be made in the measure of relief extended to the worker. He had to reply that for the purposes of allocating relief a dependent child was deemed to be a child under the age of sixteen. The board regretted that it was unable favourably to entertain any variation of the rule relating to conjugal classification. Mr J. W. Crampton said that the decision of the board was to be regretted, but it seemed that it would have to be accepted. Mr G. Maginness asked whether it would be possible to ascertain the number of children who would be affected. Mr R. T. Baile}' declared that the matter was a Dominion one; they were not dealing with Christchurch alone. Mr W. E. Leadley: If it could be proved that children have to continue their education owing to lack of werk the board might consider the matter. Mr Andrews: The trouble is that a lot of these letters, I understand, don’t go before the board. Mr Godfrey makes the decisions and sends the letters. Mr J. S. Barnett said the Government should provide vocational training for wages. That was a desirable and reasonable alternative. Mr G. Harper suggested that any deputation decided upon should include two members representing the Bovs’ Emplovment Committee. Messrs Andrews, Barnett and Leadley were appointed the deputation, with power to act.