NEW SCHEME IN FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 11

NEW SCHEME IN FORCE

PROPOSALS FOR TWO MONTHS

The No. 5 scheme which, was announced by the Unemployment Board a few days ago, came into operation today, and as a large number of local bodies have indicated that they will be able to provide work under this scheme it is hoped that the position will be considerably relieved. Briefly, it has beon arranged that: (1) A single man will receive two days' work a week; (2) a man with, a wife, or a wife and one dependent child under 16 years of age, three days' work each week; (3) a man with a wife and two or more dependent children under 16 years of age, four days' work each week; (4) a widower with dependent child,or children under 16 years of age to, be treated as a married man. Wages are to be paid at the ruling rate for the work undertaken. The wage for local body labourers yarieg in different places,. and the wage rate under this scheme will \ vary accordingly. If any work involves skilled labour, governed by awards, the wfcrd rate must be paid; but the board's subsidy in no ease will exceed the amount operating on Government relief works, the difference in wages to be made up by the' local body in. cases where the award rate 'is higher than the Government relief:work rates* .■.; The duration of the scheme is fixed | as covering February and March, and: will., apply only to those unemployed! who have paid the levy instalment or who have been exempted. Wages are to bfr paid each week by the local bodies, who will be repaid weekly, the | amount expended. The work under the> scheme must be. other, than that provided for on this year's Estimates, or work which.1 has been merely left ofi the Estimates in anticipation of an unemplyoment: subsidy. The local' body is to provide, all materials, all supervision, transport, and cartage. In some of the larger centres works of considerable magnitude^ aro under consideration, and in the country'districts the local authorities hava prepared schedules that should provide work .for almost every available man. The board has had a conference with Mr. Jull, chairman of the Counties' Association, arid s)tlso with the executive of the Municipal. Association, with a view to securing the co-operation and assistance of all local bodies where unemployment is acute.