RELIEF WORKERS’ PAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 18, 22 January 1935, Page 6

RELIEF WORKERS’ PAY

MAORIS AND EUROPEANS BOARD'S POLICY STATED HAMILTON, Jan. 18. A reply to a letter protesting against differentiation between ALaori and European relict workers was received from the actiug-Minister of Employment, the Hon. S G. Smith, at a meeting of the Vvaikato Hospital Board yesterday. The letter st..ted that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Unemployment Board, with special reference to Huutly Al noris, and it had been stated that it was the board’s policy to treat Maoris iu the same way as Europeans whore it was definitely known they were observing European Jiving conditions and standards.

When Alaoris were more favourably situated, as a result of living in communal fashion in the pas. with all the attendant advantages, stated the reply, the board considered it was justified in affording somewhat less assistance. The board had stated that the position of the Iluntly Alaoris had been closely inquired into, and the reports revealed that the circumstances and mode of living of the Maoris on the unemployment register in the district were such as to render the existing measure of relief sufficient at this time of the year. It was understood, however, that the revised scales of relief, which the board was introducing toward the end of the present month, providing more favourable treatment of Maoris than did the existing scales, and this revision would remove i .any of theiobjcA tions held at present on the question of Maori relief.