UNEMPLOYMENT GRANT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1929, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT GRANT

NO VALUATiON IN TERMS. (W WELLINGTON, July IG. Regretfully hut definitely tile Prime Minister. announced to the House today that the Government is unable to vary the orig.nal terms on which it •offered ju25,(,0J to each of the four chief cities as subsidy on expenditure to relieve unemployment/, , The mat.er was raised by Mr Sullivan (Avon) chairman of the Finance Committee of the Christchurch j City Council, and a member of a deputation from the cities which recently asked the Prime Minister to ease the terms of the subsidy and, pillow it to be payable on a,£ for £ basis of total expenditure. “1 have fully considered the matter and have reluctantly come to the conclusion,” replied Sir t Joseph, “that I must adhere t-o the former decision. The subsidy is £25,000 to each of the four cities and the request is that it be payable on a £ for £ basis.” Mr Sullivan: You "are adhering to wages only? ! The Prime Minister .did not directly answer the point, but went on to say that the calls on' the country’s resources were very heavy and he was not warranted in • stretching expenditure in the direction asked. ‘Ht takes practically all my time as Finance Minister to meet the demands that have already been made from different portions of the country,” he said.

RELIEF WORKS PAY. WELLINGTON, July 16. That the ’Government subsidy involves payment of 14s per day to married men on relief works was plainly indicated by the Prime Minister in reply to Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) in the House to-day. Quoting from the “Marlborough Express” Mr Fraser showed that the Wairau River Board, having been informed that work for the unemployed would he subsidised by the Government on a £ for £ basis had proceeded with the clearing of willows, but was paying single men 9s per day and married men 12s The member suggested that if this report was true the Prime Minister should investigate and instruct the River Board that the low wages fixed are in direct contradiction to the Government’s avhwed policy, and that the subsidy would he with-held until 14s per day is paid? “I will communicate with the hoard and ascertain the position,” replied Sir Joseph. “If 9s and 12s are being paid on the basis of the subsidy then the Government will not continue the subsidy.”