RELIEF WORKERS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 April 1935, Page 5

RELIEF WORKERS

BETTER CONDITIONS. MINISTERIAL PROMISE. AUCKLAND, Monday. Two definite promises of improvements in the conditions governing the treatment of relief workers and those on sustenance were made to a large deputation of unemployed by the recently appointed Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, at the Town Hall. Tho Minister undertook that men on the unemployment register who had grievances against decisions by local officers of the Unemployment Board would be given tho right of appeal, and said that after Easter men who attended a job on wet days would be paid even if no work were done. He refused to commit himself to grant an extra 10s per week to unemployed in all categories, saying that there was not enough money in the unemployment fund to do this. Referring to his promise to arrange for appeals by relief workers, the Minister said his present thought was to arrange for the worker concerned and an officer of the board to go before a Magistrate in the privacy of the Magistrate’s room and discuss the case. Asked whether he would also allow a representative of the association to which the appellant belonged to bo present, tho Minister said lie would con sider tho case. He wanted to be fair. —(P.A.)