RELIEF WORKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1932, Page 5

RELIEF WORKERS

SUSTENANCE CUT DEPUTATION TO MB HAMILTON. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, September 15. Mr ’Robert ’Semple, M.P., to-day introduced to the Acting-Minister of Employment, M.r Hamilton, a large deputation (Representing! ft,he Welling; ton relief 'workers, with a request that the 50 per cent, cut in sustenance payments made to men for whom no work is available, should be immediately restored. In introducing the deputation, Mr Semplg said the relief workers in Wellington were deeply concerned in the cut made as the result of tile Unemployment Board’s decision. Th© unemployed, ho said, were already living in a state of semi~?tarvation, and that 'SO per cent, sustenance reduction woulid mean that the men and their dependents would faoe veritable starvation. Others speakers asserted that the relief worker wag being made the scapeeoat as between the Unemployment Board and the local bodies. It was estimated that 581 mart in Wellington’ would be affected 'by the cut this week,

The President of the Alliance of La* hour, Mr A, Cook, said he would {ike to know why the cut was being applied to Wellington only,

Th e Minister: That is not the case. It' has a general application. The position 'is that they are finding work in most other parts of New Zealand, so that, in actual practice, it may not apply there.”

•In his reply, the Minister said that h e did not pretend that all of the unemployed were satiffoed with the conditions under which they are working. The Government realised that th 6 conditions were not of the best, but the country, he said, was passing through very difficult times. The Government and the Unemployment Board were endeavouring to give some relief, and, personal' I } 7 , he felt that they were meeting the .position fairly well. They were finding between £4,000,000 and £5.000,000. A member of the deputation: “The trouble is i you are nob using the money th© right way.” Dealing with the 50 per cent, reduction in th e sustenance, - the Minuter said that the Government’s policy was that men should work for any money they received. The Government was trying to help everybody to earn something, and many- were getting £2 a week. The Government wanted th e local bodies to put the men to work. He would be quite prepared to discuss the matter with the Board and with the Wellington : City Council in the light of the representations which the deputation had mode,

INSURANCE OF WORKERS. TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY BOARD. WELLINGTON, Sep. 15. From October Ist the Unemployment Board has decided to take over the cost of the insurance for the relief workers, according to a statement by the Acting-Minister of Employment. For some time past the local bodies throughout New Zealand have been complaining to the Unemployment Board 1 of tbs cost of carrying the different charges relating to the relief workers under their care, sucli as those for insurance, tools, transport, and supervision.

Mr Hamilton said, that this problem has become very latoute in the capital city. In order to give the local bodies a measure of relief the Board has now decided to take oven- the insurance cost. This employers’ liability has always been carried by the Public "Works Department. Subject to the necessary confirmativon, the Unemployment Board • will, fiom October Ist accept this insurance liability. Arrangements will be made for the State. Fire Insurance Department, which lias offered to assist the I fird ,at a nominlal cost, to determine the amount of compensatioen due to any injured relief worker. The Boarl freely acknowledges the valuable assistance given it by the local bodies in handling tlie unemployed problems. The measure of help thus given will enlable these, local bodies more fretoly to continue their (assistance to the Board in the administration of the relief fund.

WORK FOUND FOR YOUTHS. 382 PLACED IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Sep. 15. To date 382 boys have been placed at work, under the “Youth” movement, but nevertheless the registry's; tions of unemployed boys seeking work are coming in just as freely as are the offers of employers for positions for them. Mr T. N. Gibbs, chairman of the Boys’ Employment Commitetee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, stated the committee had set out to have 500 boys placed in employment before the end of September. It was now’ a matter of civic pride that at Idasb that nmnber should be absorbed m industry. It means placing 118 more boys.

A PROTEST FROM WESTPORT WESTPORT, Stop. 15. At the meeting of the Westport unemployed held °n Thursday evening,