STAND-DOWN WEEK

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1932, Page 5

STAND-DOWN WEEK

EFFORTS MADE TO AJ/OID IT IN THE COUNTRY

(Per Tress Associd'tion — Copyright.) ■ WELLINGTON, August 1£). 1 J'Efforts are being made by the Unvemployment Board to avoid the standdown week in country districts,’ according to a letter received by. Mr A. Mi Samuel, M.P. for Thames, from the Acting-Minister of Employment, Hon. i A. Hamilton. > 'H'The Minister says the stand-dowri f week ; in country, districts lui,s been I under consideration for some time/ anti that action has now been taken with a view to avoiding the stand-down wee'/, by spreading the work evenly, over •'each week. In this connection; the 1 -Minister adds, certifying, officers have already been advised that they may utilise the amount of the weekly allocation so as to give’work to every eligible man in every week, subject to the' maximum amount of relief for which he may be eligible over each four weeks not being exceeded. This , action has been taken in response to representations from various districts where it.was felt that it would he in the interests of . the unemployed to have n certain amount of work 1 eacfi week, thu'a enabling then! to receive some wages each week, in’steead of at the end of each week for three weeks and tbeiV nothing at the end of the fourth. The new arrangement does not, of course, involve any increase .in the allocation to country districts; it merely gives certifying of- ■ fi'cers the right, if districts wish to avail themselves of it, to spend in four weekly relief ..wage payments the amount which otherwise would be spent in three weekly payments. .