WORK FOR WORKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1931, Page 5

WORK FOR WORKERS

FACTS AND FIGURES.

In moving the second reading of tlie Unemployment Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council last week the Hon. Robert Masters ‘ furnished some very interesting information concerning the efforts made by the Government to alleviate the conditions of these unfortunate people within the Dominion who were suffering from the adverse conditiqns which seemed to be afflicting more or less the people of the whole world at the present time. The catastrophe that had befallen other countries than New" Zealand'were'indicated more or less by the magnitude of the deficits in their national, accounts for the financial year. Great Britain'showed *a deficit of £23,000,000; United States of America,' £180,000,000; Canada, £15,000,000; Australia (Federal), £17,000,000; New South -Wales, £9,000,000; Germany, £50,000,000; 'and Italy, £4.500,000.' None of these countries had escaped the scourge and had adopted legislation to deal with it well ahead of any' measures operating % elsewhere.

DROP IN VALUES

New Zealand, Mr went on to say was peculiarly susceptible to a fall in the prices -df primary products. Comparing the year 1930 with 1929, the drop in the value of exports was £12,500,000, but comparing the financial year ended 31st March, 1981, with the financial year ended 31st March, 1929 (a two-year period) the,'decrease was £17,626,000. That" showed a continuity of 'falling values. The rapidity and increasing, rate of the fall during the initial period of the '.board’s ppeiations was shown hv comparing the six months ending May ,-i. 1931, - with the corresponding six months of. the previous year., a,decrease jafy.dVer ; £8,500.00. In addition to the..loss of national income represented "by those figures, the decrease in the total value of production within the Dominion was relatively much greater, and' the result had been the wholesale unloading' of men ‘on to the'Labour market. ;• This was evidenced by the rapid .increase in tho. number of unemployed registrations. ' .

THE HELPING HAND.

Referring to the', formation '-'y of ,tlie Unemployment Board late ip November last, Mr Masters reviewed the various/ scheines of relief that- had. been put into operation'by this body.. Here the nature and operation -of these schemes can be stated only in skeleton form. U ;• ’ Scheme No. 1 (subsidies to local bodies on £2 and £1 basis, on works at forded relief to . approximately 4,600 men, working alternate periods -,and it was estimated that £35,000 in wages reached the uimtitployed workers. . Scheme tfb; 2 (£1 for £1 subsidy to private ' employers) i The amount made available was £34,953. and work was provided for 24,000 men. who received approximately £70.000. Scheme No. 3 (special grant to local bodies for Christmas relief): The total amount granted was £8,789, and som e 5.500 men received approximately two days’ work each. Scheme No. 4a (placing additvona 1 men on farms for periods ranging from ! four to twenty-six weeks): The board 1 granted subsidies of 15s per week for single men, and 25s for married men. ! Boayd and lodging was provided by the employer, and .in most cases a small. wage also. From Ist June, 1931. the rates had been reduced to 10s ! and 20s. ■ The number of men placed to date under this scheme was ...61.48 (4733 single, 1415 married), and’ - the total commitments to date, amount to £77,400. Scheme 4b (subsidy on contracts for developmental work on farms): Under this scheme, said Mr Masters, 1 38 .n----dividual subsidies had been approved to date' totalling £7,533. This .represented £22,599 in wage, payments uunemployed workers, who numbered 721. Scheme s.—Under this scheme the local bodies were not divested of their j responsibilities in the matter' of helping to solve the probleoiyiand it was the Unemployment Board’sy'duty to coordinate arjd direct relief'throughout the country. The ci men who worked under the scheme during May and June was- 28,560, anci during the week ended 13th ;June, the actual number of-men employed was 32,850. The approximate -weekly ex penditure under the scheme'.was' £45,- • 000. ;- fr’y . MAORIS SHARE RELIEF. Referring to the assistance which had been given to unemployed Maoris. Mr Masters said that, contracts to.the value of £27.765 had been subsidised to the extent of £8,683. There were 970 men employed.