PRIVATE SUBSIDY SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21420, 12 March 1935, Page 16

PRIVATE SUBSIDY SCHEME

ABUSES ALLEGED DISCUSSION BY RETURNED SOLDIERS' EXECUTIVE Abuses of the private subsidy scheme were animatedly discussed at the meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. The question arose when a motion was moved to allocate £l5O, over a period of three weeks, to the Unemployment, Committee. Opinion was divided as to whether the money should be spent by this committee or used for benevolent relief. Mr J. S. Chisholm advocated the use uL the money for the latter purpose. 'Die private subsidising of work, he said, was abused in some instances, although it was true that the scheme benefitted returned soldiers in finding work for them. The benevolent, cornB. H. Gilmour; honorary auditor. Mr W. the association, and it should be given more spending power. Mr C. Miln: The abuse of the private subsidy system is less now than previously. The system has been creating work. If the Employment Committee cai spend the money advantageously I should like it to have the opportunity. Mr B. O. Priddis said that the money spent in subsidising work supplied men who would otherwise apply for benevolence. The president, the Rev. K T. Read, supported the motion, giving as his opinion that the two committees were complementary. Mr CbishoJni: Rmnr of Dip richest men in Ihc community apply to us Cor the subsidy. I am not afraid In stand up and tell them so. The motion was I hen carried. MEN ON SUSTENANCE SYSTEM OF REPORTING CRITICISED The decision of the Unemployment Board that men receiving sustenance must report twice a week, in addition to reporting once a week to receive payment, was criticised at a meeting of the Christchurch Unemployment Committee yesterday. Recently the committee passed a resolution, which was forwarded to the board, that it considered it should be sufficient for men on sustenance to report once a week. Yesterday a reply was received from the board stating that it could not change the present: system. In conveying this decision the Commissioner for Unemployment, Mr G. C. Godfrey, said it was extremely difficult for the board to ensure that men were not receiving sustenance from the unemployment fund at the same time as they were getting continuous, or considerable, earnings from private sources. To overcome to some degree this difficulty, the present system of reporting was insisted on. It should also be remembered that if the men were receiving employment under the board's schemes they would be required to do two or three days' work amounting to eight hours each day. The Rev. F. T. Read moved that the letter be received, and that the committee express its regret that the board had not been able to grant the committee's request. Mr W. E. Leadley said he thought the committee should express more than- its regret. He could not see the logic of requiring the men to report three times a week. When the men had to do this many of them had to travel long distances, taking up most of their day. Thus they could not seek light work. Mr J. W. Crampton suggested that the board should be asked to reconsider its decision. Mr W. W. Scarff: It's only beating the air. Mr Leadley said he thought that if the committee had a reasonable case it should continue to make representations. Mr J. W. Beanland suggested that a system of reporting by postcard should be inaugurated. Mr Leadley mentioned the New Brighton borough as a place where such a system would be welcomed. He said that this borough had a bigger proportion of unemployed than any other borough in New Zealand. Many of the men had to come to the city to seek work, and it was a hardship to ask them to report three times a week. If they could do so by telephone or by postcard it would ease the posit;on for them. Mr Crampton said that to ask the men to report more than once a week was killing initiative. Mr Beanland said the committee should not be too harsh with the board, because it had more to do with the men than the committee had and knew the position better. The board had to protect itself against men who were not being honest. A motion was passed that the board's reply be received with regret, and that the board be asked to reconsider its decision. Police cadets chosen in Britain for the new Police College from men already employed in the force are proving quite as suitable as those with public school education; so next term, out of the 30 new candidates required, 17 will Be selected from the ranks of the London Metropolitan Police Force.