RELIEF WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1933, Page 4

RELIEF WORKS

standard wages advocated. . j x ' • \ ■" ■ BY MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Pei Press Association, ■; Copyright). CHRISTCHURH, October 28.' Standard rates of wages, with a reduced time of working are advocated by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, iYl.r.) as a means of improving the general position of, men . on, relief works. Mr Sullivqn. has been making representations to the Government urging that the amount of time required from relief-.workers should be reauc<-d and that the men should' be paid standard rates of wages. He sajd that if the men were paid standard rates of wages ~to the extent of the funds that, the Government had available, the. men would not be oppressed with the present system. They would still be on short time, like many other people, but it would not have the demoralising, .characteristics involved in working for low wages. When Mr Sullivan raised the matter in the House on Friday morning lie received- - an,Assurance from the Minister of Employment . (the Hon Adam Hamiltou) that the proposal would be considered .immediately, and something might be done in that way. FINDING men’ FOR COUNTRY. “STOCKTAKING” .IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, October 28. - In order to . ascertain the number of men eligible. for country work, who can be sent to the various .camps without inflicting hardship on themselves or their families, the Labour Department is carrying.out a general “stocktaking” in the various,.Auckland' districts where relief labour: is employed,. Men are being “called up’’ for medical examination in the; first place, and if they are found fit for country work they .are asked to give reasons as to why. they ' should not be drafted to the country. If there are satisfactory reasons, they will be retained in; the city or the suburbs, but if not they , will be drafted to the country. • A Labour official said that large numbers of men. were required at present in the country for ragwort eradi- : cation. Every man who could be sent to the country was needed.. . He said that preparatory work for; the Government's small .farm scheme and the ; ordinary seasonal work were also increasing the demand for labour. .MINISTER’S EMPHATIC. DENIAL ; BOYS’ EDUCATION FACILITIES : / ..WELLINGTON, October 28. Strong, exception was taken by th© Education Minister;. Mr Masters, in art interview to-day, to the charge, against the Government that boys have been •deprived of educational facilities, and that they are not being provided with employment. ! He -gave the statement an emphatic denial, Naturally, ho said, it was not possible-to- grant any relief where hardship was hot shown, but each case was dealt with on- its merits, and in every instance sympathetic consideration was given by him personally. - _ The Department’s efforts in assisting to place- boys and girls in situations had not been relaxed, and with wholehearted co-operation from teachers, valuable work was being:-done, and would be. continued. In Wellington alone- principals of post-primary schools had placed 300 boys' in- employment this year. There' were'similar results in other parts of the Dominion. In conclusion; he said lie thoug.i the Government had been . extremely liberal in meeting the situation, by giving children many valuable concessions. Moreover, there was motiving to prevent them returning to school and continuing their studies until able to find employment.