New Relief Scales

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 97, 18 January 1935, Page 11

New Relief Scales

Sir.—The new scales ot relief and sustenance payments as announced by the Unemployment Board should forcibly bring to the notice of the public of New Zealand, the shortsightedness of the policy of the Government and the Unemployment Board in relation to the whole question of unemployment. On the one hand ■we see the cuts being restored to the Civil Servants and other sections of the workers (this is a good thing and should be encouraged), while on the other hand we find the unemployed not only being denied the restoration of all cuts, but collectively being no better off than they were a year or more ago. The board claims that the new so-called increases will cost an additional £175,000, but is not there a distinct policy being adopted by it of placing more and more men on sustenance? If this analysis is a correct one, then we claim that the tendency will be for the board to reduce still further its expenditure on the unemployed as a whole. On Marell 31, 1931, the board had a balance of £69,000; on March 31. 1932, the balance was £184,000; on March 31, 1933, the balance was £424,000. The actual cash in the fund on June 30 last (according to the statement of Mr. Young in the House on August 7) was £1,372,000. Against this, he said, must be set off revenue received in.advance, £300,000, and outstanding comniit'ments of approximately £400,000. leaving a balance of approximately £672,000. Mr. Coates, speaking in the House on September 13, said: “The revenue estimated to be derived for the' fund this year is £4,700,000 .odd; while there was a surplus from last year of £1,000.000.”

The policy of building up a surplus means nothing more than the withholding of food, clothing, and shelter from the unemployed, and should be resisted to the uttermost. It is time that the Government and the Unemployment Board granted some substantial increases to the unemployed. On the basis of 50,000 registered unemployed a 10/- increase weekly to all would tost the sum of £1.250.000 and a 5/- weekly increase £625.000 (less than the cash balance in hand on June 30). The granting of such increases as indicated above would greatly benefit the small shopkeepers and help towards an improvement in their position. Again, what is the intention of the Unemployment Board in relation to the Question of the hours to be worked by the different categories of unemployed now that the new scales of payment are to he introduced? Doesn’t it intend that tilings remain as at present with two-day men, two and a half day men, three-day men. three and a half-day men and fourday men ; or do they intend to extend the hours of work for those men who will not receive the biggest payments?. An answer to these questions would be greatly welcomed hr tho iinemnlovc'l. —I am. et-.. On belinlf Mio X.Ii.W.TT. CHA-S. M. BROOKS. Organiser. ■Wellington.