SUSTENANCE RATES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 20 July 1934, Page 13

SUSTENANCE RATES.

Protest by Citizens’ Association. “ MEAGRE ALLOWANCES.” The new scale of sustenance payments made by the Unemployment Board in Christchurch was the subject of a motion of protest carried unanimously at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association last evening. The discussion was introduced by Mr A. S. Taylor, who said it was exceedingly tragic that in a country like New Zealand men should be expected to live on such meagre allowances. The Unemployment Board, he said, had a difficult task to deal with, but at the same time he felt that the scale of sustenance payments already made in Christchurch was exceedingly meagre, though the board said that it was the most that could be made. Mr Taylor said that they were all contributing the unemployment fund and they should demand that the Government and the Unemployment Board should make an endeavour to pay these people something nearer a living amount of sustenance. The men placed oil sustenance were attacked in two ways, firstly, on account of the very small sustenance rate, and secondly, by their inability to obtain outside work. He moved: “That this meeting protests against the exceedingly meagre scale of sustenance payments recently brought down by the Unemployment Board.” The motion was seconded by Mr F. J. Prouting. The motion was passed unanimously and it was decided to forward copies to the Prime Minister, the Unemployment Board and the local members of Parliament. Protest Endorsed. Sixty delegates to a meeting of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee last evening decided to endorse the protest against the Unemployment Board's sustenance scheme made recently by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.j. It was also decided to recompiend to all affiliated unions that their members should attend the public meeting to protest against the scheme, which has been called by Mr Sullivan and will be held in the Civic Theatre on Sunday.