RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 440, 4 December 1930, Page 6

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

. UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD . TEMPORARY POLICY. PEOPLE ASKED TO HELP. Practically the whole attention of the Unemployment Board is at present being focussed on immediate stops to relieve. distress during the holiday periol. .and during the week-end the members were busy in their respective districts conferring with local authorities concerning the allocation of £25,000 in subsidies and the setting up of local committees. The board resumed its sittings on Tuesday and the reports on these negotiations and applications for subsidies wore considered.

A big effort is being made to establish local committees in the various ecu tres, arid the citizens are urged to give these committees every co-operation. It is realised by members of the board that, nothing they do will be a complete success unless they receive this assistance from the public. So far no definite scheme for the operations of the local committees has been devised, but it is expected that an announcement will bo made within the next few days.

However, one of the functions of the committees will be to act as an intermediary between the people who have jobs to offer and those seeking work. Supposing a householder is able to give a man employment, for one or two days in his garden. He will apply to the committee, which will arrange for a man out of the ranks of the unemployed to carry out the work. Those jobs will be subsidised, and the board is devising safeguards to prevent dishonest collaboration for the purpose of obtaining a subsidy. Some form of chock on the work will be made. •Steps have already been taken to set up the Wanganui committee, and those with work to offer arc asked to watch for announcements.

The scheme as outlined must not be considered as part of the permanent policy of the board, which at the present time is concentrating on immediate relief for the holiday period. Its main policy has yet to come, and it will be obvious that this cannot be announced before comprehensive data have been collected and carefully considered.