ALLOCATION CUT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1933, Page 6

ALLOCATION CUT

IN RELIEF WORKS

0 AMARU SUPPORTS PROTEST

{Per Press Association Copyright.)

OAMARU, November 16

Tlio protest from Gisborne against the cutting down of the relief allocation of relief was strongly supported by tlio Uamaru Eorougii Council tonight. The mayor (Mr M. F. Cooney) said that the position in the smaller towns was becoming very acute. The Unemployment Board was not giving the consideration to the matter that it should. He was afraid that the Board’s policy was wrong. The Mayor said the reduction of the allocation to Oamaru was reducing the men to starvation. The wage allocation had, been cut clown . without any explanation. The present allocation to Oamaru was quite inadequate. The distress was becoming very acute.

The councillors heartily supported the Mayor, it being contended that the provincial towns were not receiving a fair deal. Not one-third of the amount being collected by the . unemployment taxation in Oamaru was being spent in this district, which, i n common with other provincial towns, was sending thousands of pounds to the cities, which had no “stand down” week. The allocation had been reduced by over oue hundred pounds a week, which meant increased distress to the unemployed. Oamaru should have received special treatment, as a number of the men put off the Waitaki hydro Works during ,the depression had come to Oamaru. The Council had protested about., this two years ago. What they then contemplated had happened. It was decided to strongly support the protest from Gisborne, and to arrange a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the Retailers’ Association and the Borough Council to further the protest.

REPORT TO METHODIST SYNOD.

WELLINGTON, November 16

The report on unemployment presented to the Methodist Synod, by an investigation committee, stated the opinion of the committee was unanimous that the present system of relief work has resulted in such loss of morale that in its way it is as tragic as hunger. The committee is concerned that the public mind Las not paid sufficient attention to this aspect of the case. It' is of the opinion that this aspect should he brought to the very forefront of the discussion.

This was passed by the synod, and also other resolutions commending to tlio Government the institution of a compulsory, national-insurance fund, as a method" of‘adequately-' guarding against the Midis of unemployment" in coining days, a.ske : d that the pay should he adequate tit meet the hare' needs of life, food,'clothes arid rent .•

TO RESTORE CUT

AUCKLAND' COUNCIL DECISION,

I AUCKLAND, November 17,

By ! eleven Wotes |, O nine, .the City Council passed a motion to restore the ten per cent, cut in wages of employees working under the local bodies .labourers’ award** The Counci] then decided, on the 'Casting vote of Mayor Hutchison, that the Finance Committee should investigate the financial position and report upon the possibility of taking action during the remainder of the financial year.

The Mayor had appealed to the move r of the first motion to withdraw it, because the Council had already budgeted for the year, and had decided 'it was preferable to pay smaller rvages to more mein, than to dismiss some and pay full wages to the remainder. The mover of the motion, while recognising- the Mayor’s sympathy to wage Vaising, declined to withdraw the motion.

On a second division, an independent labour member, Mr Bloodworth, voted against the official Labour section, on jtjhflf ground that, the would affect other employees, besides the men under the award.