SMALLER GRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1932, Page 4

SMALLER GRANTS

FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

Last evening, Mr H. E. Holland '(Leader of the Opposition) < received the following telegram from the Minister of Min s and 'Agriculture, Hon. C. E. MacMillan, dated from Weheka Valley, South Westland : t “The Minister of Employment advises that he has investigated ithe allocation for Greymouth and for Blackball, and he finds that th e small amounts that were granted to these places last week were due to that being the stand down week at both places, for -the majority of the men. The Blackball evocation for the current week is' £174 10s, and that of Greymouth is £442 3s. These amounts are in proportion to the number of the registered unemployed at each centre, and they are in line with tho-e’ granted to the other arees. and renresent the maximum .sums' that the Board’s funds will permit.” “Mr Coates regrets that it is not possible to grant funds sufficient to give every man a full ration of re-, life beyond the four main centres, in location could be divided in ev.en sums each week, if this is mor e suitable to the local bodies concerned.”

Mr Holland has replied to Mr Coates to the effect that there is an error in his statement, as every second week i,s a stand down week for Blackball* and has been so for some considerable time.

/Mr Holland also protests against the unemployed on the West Coast receiving differential treatment from taos* in the main centres.