MATAMATA TOWN BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18339, 27 May 1931, Page 11

MATAMATA TOWN BOARD

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. The fortnightly meeting of the Matamata Town Board took place on Monday evening, Commissioner J. Buchanan presiding. The secretary, Matamata Fire gade wrote that from May 31 there would be no firemen attending at the Regent Theatre owing to tho refusal of the proprietors to pay for services rendered. —■ t was decided to notify l he Union Theatres Company that if no firemen were in attendance the licence would lie suspended. '[’he Waikato Hospital Board wrote drawing attention to the fact that the reduction to the arbitrary amount fixed by Ihe Health Department would result in a material reduction in Ihe rate of sYibsidy and a corresponding increase in the levy on local contributory bodies, and asked that strong representations be made to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and members of Parliament. The Hamilton Borough Council enclosed a letter forwarded to the Minister of Health with reference to subsidy payable to Hie Waikato Hospital Board. Commissioner Buchanan stated that if the local bodies had to make up the 11,000 necessary for tho maintenance of the hospital service it would mean an extra contribution by Matamata of EllO. At the same lime it had been stated by llie Government that it did not desire that local bodies should be subleced to an extra levy.

Replies to enquiries were received from Lloyds Insurance Company which showed a decrease of 20 per cent on premium at present being paid by the board. Replies supporting ■ the boards representations for validating legislation ro expenses of Unemployment Committees were received from Whalcataiie, Otorohanga, Tauranga, Opotild, and Waikato Council Councils. Paeroa and Taihape Borough Councils and Haurakl and Ohinemuri County Councils wrote that they could not support it. The tender of Mr W. W. Kuhtz at Is 4d, per yard for the delivery of 500 yards of pug and sand from the board’s pit to Peria Road was accepted. The secretary of the Unemployment Committee reported that since the formation of his committee applications had been received from 172 registered unemployed, Of these 09 had been placed under No. 5 scheme with the Matamata Town Board, the Walton and Waharoa School Committees and the .Matamata County Council on works at Waharoa, Te Roj, Hinuera and Te Hanga. At March 13, 20 unemployed had been found a total of 302 weeks’ work with farmers under No. 4a scheme. From March 14 to date, 05 unemployed had beep placed in work under No. 4a scheme for a total of 966 weeks, making a total- of 85 men who had been placed on work of developing and improving farm lands for a total of 1328 weeks, Applications by farmers for the services of unemployed were increasing daily as also, unfortunately were registrations of men seeding work. Enquiries were being received from unemployed with reference to the taking over of abandoned farms under No. 4o scheme. The secretary found that

his time was fully occupied and applied for an increase in salary. After reviewing the. circumstances the board decided to raise the remuneration by ilfteen shilling per week until the question was reviewed further.