RELIEF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1931, Page 9

RELIEF WORK

TWO NEW SCHEMES

SUBSIDISED FARM LABOUR

A rdvicw of the work of the Unemployment Board was made by the chairman (the Hon. S. G. Smith) in a statement issued to-day. He said that the board could fairly claim to have fully justified its formation, in spite of the criticism which had been directed against it by individuals who were either unaware of the work the board was doing or were deliberately misrepresenting the facts for political purposes. "With the coming into operation of the board's largest plau for the relief of unemployment it is timely to review some of tho outstanding results of the board's work since its first meeting on 25th November, 1930," said the Minister of Labour. "It must, be remembered that urgency was tho essence of the position, at that time, and necessarily the relief measures were merely temporary. "At tho board's second meeting £25,000 was made available to local bodies on a basis of £2 for £1 subsidy for work of a capital nature or else special maintenance. So great was the response to this offer that at the end of three weeks the total amount of the subsidy was increased, and approximately £32,500 was approved. About 5000 men' benefited from this scheme. "As a special emergency measure for Christmas relief Scheme No. 2 was inaugurated on sth December, and 'has proved an outstanding success, about 10,000 men having been provided with a certain amount of work under it, through the medium of 120 local com-, mittees in all parts of the.Dominion. "No. 3 scheme was introduced immediately prior to Christmas in order to afford special relief to every unem-, ployed man who had not had work for a fortnight or received any relief uiider the first two schemes. A straightout grant of £10,000 was provided for distribution by local bodies in conjunction with local unemployment committees. It is estimated that 7000 men secured'two'days' wages at 14s per day under this scheme. / "On. Monday last there came into operation Scheme No. 5,. tho' most extensive of the board's undertakings. This provides for tho expenditure, of £150,000 on rationed worki for men according to their domestic status. The work is to bo provided by local bodies, and is expected to employ almost all the registered unemployed for about two months. TWO NEW PROPOSALS. "Rules governing two other proposals are now being completed,'and particulars will bo published in a few days. Under the first of these (Scheme, 4a) it is provided that farmers who requiro workers shall apply to the local committees, which will select from' the registered unemployed men. who are suitable for farm work. Tho farmer and the worker arrange the rate of, wages to bo paid, and tho board will subsidise it to the extent of 15s per week for a single man, and 25s per week for a married man. The employer is to find board and lodging, or housing where necessary. "The second scheme (4B) covers arrangements for subsidising contract labour for developmental work on farms, the subsidy beting 33 1-3 per cent, of labour cost only, and not exceeding £75 in.any one case. The labour to be employed must be engaged from men registered as unemployed. Both schemes will come into operation on 23rd February. "Still another proposal that theboard has considered is tho allocation of £2000 to the Mines Department..for tbij purpose of engaging 100 registered unemployed married men to prospect for "gold. It is hoped that the intensive search that this plan will make possible will bring to light a fow pnyble deposits. "It must be conceded," concluded the Minister, "that the evolution of these relief schemes under exceptional pressure because of the urgency of the unmployment position is a very creditable achievement on the part of board members, and it is hoped that their continued concentration on the problem will result in plans' that will restrict unemployment within certain limits." '