THE UNEMPLOYED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 108, 10 May 1933, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED

MORE ASSISTANCE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS THE WINTER MONTHS WELLINGTON, May 9. Measures which the Government proposes to take to give further assistance to relief workers during the winter months were outlined in a statement made by the Prime Minister (the RL Hon. G. W. Forbes) to-day. Mr. Forbes mentioned that it had been possible for rhe Unemployment Board to balance its accounts, but pointed out that the balance would be needed to meet any increased allocations required on account of additional unemployment during the winter months. The Prime Minister stated that Cabinet bad devoted much time and thought to the question of unemployment, and recently discussed with the Unemployment Board matters affecting the various operations of the board. As Parliament was responsible for the fund out of which the relief money was paid it was desirable that the Government should be in close touch with j the policy of the administration of the fund. The discussion was such that the Government was satisfied that- the hoard was giving full consideration to the needs of the unemployed with the amount of funds at its disposal. He wag pleased to state that with careful administration it had been possible to keep the funds balanced, but it would ■ be appreciated that the resources had been fully used in keeping up the measure of relief that it had been possible to afford. The receipts from the unemployment tax and levy for the year ended March ?.1 last amounted to £4.058.000. which, with a sum of £74.000 carried forward from the preceding year, made a total amount of £4.132.000 available for unemployment relief. The commitments paid or estimated to fall due for payment within the same period were £3.970.000, which left a balance of £162.000. consisting of the £74.000 brought forward from last year, and a credit balance of £BB.OOO for the year’s working. “This balance will be needed to meet »nv increased allocations which may be required on account of the additional unemployment registrations which invariablv oe'-ur during the months?’ said the Prime Minister. It will be seen that the revenue allows fnr an average weekly expenditure of about £78.000. which is being fully expended at the present time. It is a tribute to the board's administration of the fund to notice that the credit balance for the P aft 7 ear '* worl: ’ n ? represent, little more than one -week s allocation. Supply of Boots • The subject vf providing workers with some or the necessaries of life at a greatly reduced pme »« diacuesed,” said Mr- Forbes lhe board stated that it had under consideration the supplying ° £ ‘ ultab ‘ boots for relief workers. Belief work ere have in many eases boots quite unsuitable for the class of work they are ■ equirei to do. This has been practically finalised, and a statement, will • ba made shortly, showing under what eonditioas these will be supplied to the workers. It is hoped to make the supplv of boots an extra, without reducing the present weekly allowances. This w.il probably be done by the men working an extra day for a pair ot boots. An endeavour ia also being made to supply other necessaries in a similar way. The board Is making provision far a supply of meat at the very lowest figure, to be available to registered unemployed for the winter in centres where necessity exists. “The manufacturing of the boots needed wiii be in a large measure additional to the ordinary trade, as it will be supplying the needs of unemployed woikers who at present are unable to purchase boots, and therefore it will give employment to many additional b-rot operatives who are at present out of work. Assisting Industries “The bosra is giving more ami more att-ntion to assisting industries to euable them to carry, on and keep their staffs in employment, and in tanv case- to employ additional numters- Surb assistance has been given to the building trade, and to flax, timber and mining industries with satisfactory results. “The amount of assistance that can V; expected irom other Government Departments was discussed at length, but at this stage it is not possible to state definitely what amount of money will be available for public, works, forestry, land settlement, and other similar works It is hoped, however, that these departments will be able to render material assistance in an en deavour to utilise the surplus labour to the best possible public advantage. “It i? proposed to push forwaio with the placing of unemployed on the laud under the Small Farms (Relief of Unemloymfnt) Act. 1933, which was initiated bv the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and with which plan the Minister of Finance will remain closely associated- It was recently announced that a comm ttee of Ministers, consisting of the 'Jinister of Lands, who will be the Minister in charge of the Act, the Ministe - of Employment, and the Minister of Agriculture, had been set up to ensure cc-ordination and the effective carrying out of the Small Farm Plan, ana also that in accordance with tie provisions of the Act a board had keen set up to he responsible for tic general control of the plan A few days ago Mr. Owen N. Campbell was appointed Commissioner to work under the board in the administration of the Act, and he will enter nn his new duties forthwith. It is hoped, mow that the Act is practically functioning fully, that the plan will have a consideiable bearing on the unemployment situation. •‘Provision is also being made to assist the Mayor’s Relief Fund iu the different cities and towns by way of an a Hex-at ion of profit from the ait nnion just recently closed. This should provide a weicome contribution to these funds end help to assist many •t the most needy cases of distress. Help for Government “I wish on behalf of the Government to express appreciation of the assistance rendered by local bodies and other organisations in dealing with | thia difficult problem. It is certainly a time when the co-operation "

essentia! in the interests or our people who aye unfortunately suffering from the effects- of the prevailing economic depression, and it is only by this concerted help that we can hope to bring about mere tolerable conditions among this section of the community. ” In conclusion, the Prime Minister stated that the public could feel assured that the Unemployment Board and the Government were co-operating in every possible way to assist the relief worker to the fullest extent. It was considered that the full resources of the board and the Government would be needed for the next few months io tide the country through a difficult period, and it was therefore neeessarv that these resources should be carefully and wisely administered. The Government was hopeful that the further proposals decided upon would help to minimise the existing distress. RELIEF WORKERS QUESTION OF EARNINGS. MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES. [ Per Press Association. I AUCKLAND, May 9. The announcement that relief workers would be allowed to earn amounts varying from 10s to something less than £1 a week from outside sources without having the amount of their relief pay or rations reduced was made by the Minister of Employment, Mr. Adaiu Hamilton, when he met a deputation representing the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Association. The Minister said, on the question of maximum earnings, that it was difficult to make definite rules without considering individual cases on merits, but the board bad adopted a general rule that if the worker earned 10s a week regularly or a day’s pay of, say 12s fid. neither his allocation nor the rations would be cut unless other factors came into it. This would apply to similar earnings made by the wife. It was not the desire of the board to discourage the unemployed from seeking additions to their incomes. If, however, both husband ami wife earned 10s that would mean an extra £1 a week coming into th? home, in which case some deduction would be made in the relief given. If this were not done the board would not have as much money to spend on those who could not make extra money. If both husband and wife managed to earn something casually no notice would be taken of it even if this happened three weeks running, but if it went on for a month the position —'•■’’d have to be considered.