UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 110, 12 May 1933, Page 6

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

BOARD’S BOOT ISSUE HOW IT IS TO OPERATE M.IN IST ER’S STATEM ENT [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, May 11. Details of the Unemployment-Board’s 1 additional winter relief, involving among other things the supplying of working boots to unemployed and assistance to the secondary industries, have been made available by the Minister (Hon. A. Hamilton). “The board,” states the Minister, “has been giving close attention to the question of increasing the spending power of unemployed workers. There are two ways in which this could be achieved. We might increase the individual weekly amounts granted, but limitation of funds would not allow of any substantial increase in the weekly pay without first increasing taxation, and the board is convinced that to press for an increase in this special taxation would result in accentuating the problem of unemployment. The other method is to make available for them at greatly reduced prices some goods of which they are in urgent need, and which to-day they cannot purchase through, the ordinary channels of trade. *‘Our first aim is to stimulate the boot industry by making it possible for every relief worker who has had a lengthy period on relief to obtain good boots for the winter. The intermittent relief worker on Scheme 5 will be given an opportunity to work one extra day over his ordinary allocation, for which he will receive an order entitling him to a new pair of working boots of a value much in excess of an ordinary day’s pay. In addition to this issue of working, boots, the total cost of which in the case of Scheme 5 workers on rationed work will be met from the board’s fund, the board is busy finalising arrangements for the manufacture of boys’ and girls’ hoots and shoe* and women’s shoes, with a view to supplying them for cash at prices below the manufacturers’ costs. This will involve a heavy expenditure against our fund and may rightly be regarded as additional winter relief.” The first advantage of the proposal was that the additional relief given would, be of far greater value to the recipient than the equivalent in cash. The second, and more important advantage. was that to provide a market that did not at present exist for, say, 100.000 pairs of boots to be manufactured in New Zealand from New Zealand materials, would be a very effective stimulant to the boot industry. The Minister adds. “We are quite conscious that at first glance the proposal may be viewed with suspicion bv retailers. This aspect received very careful consideration by the board and we examined the position without prejudice. We shall find that retailers will benefit rather than lose. *‘ A recent examination of the unem plovment register discloses the melancholy fact that of the total registration of 48.640, no loss than 30,452 have been on the books and in continuous receipt of relief for more than 25 weeks, and 17,502 of that number have been in receipt of continuous relief for over 52 weeks. It will bo agreed that unless these men have been supplementing their relief earnings they cannot have been able to purchase boots and must have been depending largely on gifts of cast-off boots and shoes. It is therefore clear that to issue boots under the conditions set down will in no way adversely affect the retailer, but the "additional market wo are creating will mean that more men and women are being placed in steady employment at standard wages, who will immediately become better customers of the retailers.” Working boots will be the first dealt with. Forms of application and samples of boots will be available at all bureaux within two or three weeks. Preference will be given to the unemployed. who have been on Scheme 5 rationed relief for over 26 weeks continuously. SCHEME STARTS IN AUCKLAND. [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, May 11. Orders have already been placed with Auckland boot manufacturers for the supply of men’s working boots under the scheme whereby the Unemployment Board is to supply relief workers with boots in return for extra work to be done. Jt was stated to-nig’ht by Mr. W. Bromley, a member of the board, who is controlling the scheme, that some of the manufacturers would be making a start on their orders to-morrow. He anticipated that by the end of June, between 6000 and 7000 pairs of boots would have been • made in Auckland and distributed to workers.