UNEMPLOYMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 March 1935, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

PROBLEMS DISCUSSED. BY MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The advocacy of an immediate increase in relief rates for all grades of work for unemployed by 10s weekly and a continuance of that increase until schemes are devised for the absorption of unemployed in works at standard rates of pay, was the principle of several decisions concerning unemployment reached at the annual conference of the Municipal Association to-day. The subject was keenly debated. During the debate it was mentioned that the cost of giving increased pay of 10s weekly would be £300,000 yearly. It was also stated, and the statement was generally endorsed, that the Unemployment Board should produce a statement of its expenditure, showing exactly how all its great income was used.

The resolutions carried were as follow:—That the executive be instructed to go into the whole question of improving the conditions of unemployed by a scheme or schemes for providing work at standard rates of pay, the scheme to. be financed partly by local authorities and partly by the Unemployment Board, or in any other manner conceived, and that in the meantime the Unemployment Board be asked to increase wages of all grades of workers by 10s per week; that the Minister of Internal Affairs be urged to allocate the proceeds of art unions during the winter months to the relief of distress; that this conference recommends to the Government that unemployed men who are ill should, on the production of a medical certificate, be supported from 'tho unemployment funds.

A remit suggesting that the Government be again urged to: abolish the No. 5 Scheme, and to use the money allocated for it for reproductive avenues, ensuring full employment at standard rates of pay, was referred to the executive under the terms of the motion previously carried.