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Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1931, Page 4

The No, o scheme now being put into’ force under direction of the Unemployed Board, is designed to find work for unemployed labour with local bodies on useful work. The scheme is submitted as one of the alternatives to the payment of sustenance, In other words, it is not intended to pny out money as a dole where men are unemployed, hut where help is needed, work must be done to earn a livelihood. The local bodies have been asked to assist in this matter by providing useful work while the Unemployed Board will pay for the labour required only. Any material needed or supervision necesasry, must he provided and done by the local body. Workers who have been resident in New Zealand for six months and have paid a contribution to the Unemployed Fund, and have been registered for fourteen days at a labour exchange, or post office, are eligible for employment under this scheme over February and March. The work is being rationed on a scale giving single men two day’s work per week: married men with a wife and one dependent under 16 years of age, three days a week ; and workers with a wife and two or more dependents, to four days’ work per week. There are restrictions on the local bodies as to the various classes of work which may be done, but the work must be useful. Payments will he weekly at Ids per day to he paid out. by the local body, and subsequent! recovered from the Unemployed Board. The effort is a legitimate attempt to meet' the. situation. and it is for the local bodies to do their part in regard to the problem. At a meeting at Greyrnouth yesterday, the scheme was outlined and explained in detail by a representative Of the Board, and there can he no doubt as to the praiseworthy intentions on the part of those responsible for the scheme. As a means to provide work, the scheme with the co-operation of the local bodies will be a success. It has its limitations in that it is restricted to this and next month onlv. There is also a difficulty about works which are not of ready access. Still, nothing can he done without an attempt, and if this scheme is in the nature of a trial to cone with the Dominion situation in regard to unemploy-

ment, it is up to all in responsible places to help all they can. The position at Napier and vicinity will provide work for a battalion of labour for many months to come, and to that extent will assist in relieving the national situation, but all cannot be sent, to Napier, so that each district must do wliat it can and. grapple with the local problem.