UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 7

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

ROAD BOARD’S DECISION BIG CUT IN WORK OFFERED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 24. The Mount Roskill Road Board, which, although one of the minor local bodies, has been employing a. large number of relief workers, recently decided to dismiss eighteen permanent employees and make certain, proposals to the Unemployment Bo rd. Last night the Road Bo rd received a reply from the Commissioner, who said that the Unemployment Board would not under any cir. instances agre. to maintenance work being carried out under Scheme No. 5. Further, it viewed with great concern the dismissal of permanent employees, and pointed out that if all local bodies acted similarly, the unemployed v ould bo increased considerably. The Board considered that rate reduction should not be sought at the present time, but all avail' bio funds should bo utilised for the relief of unemployment. A member of the Road Board remarked: “The Unemployment Board distinctly tells us that we cannot dismiss our staff and carry on the work with unemployed labour. Wo will have to decide whether to reinstate the staff and do away with unemployed labour.” On the chairman’s motion it. was decided that the Board, which had been employing 800 men on relief work, should from next Monday employ no n. than 200, preference to be given to local ratepayers and residents.