NEW RELIEF SCALE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 April 1932, Page 5

NEW RELIEF SCALE

("Post" S.*peclal Commissioner)

LABOUR CRITICISM MINISTER STRONGLY DEFENDS GOVERNMENT'S NEW - SCHEME QUESTION OF SUSTENANCE

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. AUegatipns that the new rates of unemployment relief were lower than eyef were made by members of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives to-day after the Leader of the , Opposition, Mr, H. E.. Holland, had moyed the adjournment of the Hpuse for the purp.pse of discussing the latest scheme issued by JVfr. Coates. Mr, Holland said an analysis of the new rates of pay . showe.d that the unemployed wqiffd be placed in a worse position than previously. The new rates of payment wprked out on a monthly basis and for the greater period of employment were to be only a Jittle higher than the old rates and hospital board rations would not be available as was the case when the stand-down week was in force, Under the new scheme, single men working two extra days reeeived an additional 6/- a month; married men with no children, (one extra day) a decrease of 12/6 a month; married men with one child (three extra days) an increase of 7/6; married men with two children (five extra days) £1 7/6 increase; married men with three or more children (four e£tra days) 10/increase. On a daily basis single men reeeived a decrease of 1/6 and married men a decrease of 2/6. . Sustenance Desired Mr. Holland complained that no indication had been given as to whether the rates would operate irrespective of work being provided. Everyone agreed that it was desirable that work should be provided, and that the men should be paid for the work done, but failing that, it was not too much to insist that sustenance should be provided- in accordance with the provisions of the original Act. Under the present scale, it was impossible for any of the unemployed to • maintain themselves. He asked further whether it was proposed to supplement the weekly earnings by the supply of necessaries. Several other Labour speakers condemned the Government's policy and the fact that no provision had been made in the statement for women was severely criticised. It was contended that they were entitled at least the same treatment as the men. Vigorous Defence Vigorous defence of the Government's methods of dealing with the unemployment problem was made by the Minister in Chax^ge of Unempioyment, the Rt. Hon J. G. Coates, who claimed that the relief given in New Zealand was greater than that given in any other country. Mr. Coates said that he was prepared to admit that there were a number of people in New Zealand who were likely to be disappointed over the measure of relief which the Government was providing, mainly because the pi'oposals had been misreprese«ted to them by members of the House and others who did not realise that the finanees of the country could not be stretched out as far as they might desire. It was all very well to talk about a managed currency, but that was really beside the point. In Vietoria Mr. Coates continued, a single man not living with parents able to support him reeeived 5s. a week and this went up to 20s 6d. a week for a married man with eight or more children. That was simply a sustenance grant. In New South Wales, a food supply order ranging from 5s lOd a week in the case of single men, to 37s ld in the case of married men with eight or more children, was supplied but recipients had the right to earn in addition sums ranging from 20s a week to £5 a week. "Is Sustenance Demanded?" .Mr. Coates asked if it was insisted that in New Zealand the Government should pay the sustenance payments provided for in the Unemployment Act of 21s for a married man, 17s 6d for his wife and 4s for each child. Mr. W. G. Parry, (Labour Auckland) : Yes in lieu of work. Mr. Coates: Is it claimed that work should be found for every man at £4 a week? Mr. Parry: Yes. That is your responsibility. Mr. Coates: May I point out that even in the most prosperous times in this country, evidence given before the Arbitration Court time and time again went to show that the average weekly earnings of. the general labourer was £2 10 a week Yet we have to-day a policy being enunciated by the Labour Party that every man in this country should get £4 a week.

Pwblic To Judge "I leave it to the public to judge whether sucli a policy could be put into effect," he proeeeded. "My advice to the unemployed is this: they can only expect cairn and cool eonsideration if they accept the best that the Government is able to give them." Mr. Coates quoted figures to show that there was a difference between the old relief payments and the amount actually reeeived by the workers, but under the new scheme system would be completely altered and every unemployed registered man would become the concern of the Unemployment Board. Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour Roskill). God help him. Mr. Coates: I can't call that sort thing helpful. That is taking advantage of the most unfortunate section of our eommunity, Our idea is.to give every man relief, and supposing we can't get a man work, then our responsibility is to get food and have him looked after. A Labour member : Give a sustenance allowance? Mr. Coates: In the fqrm of food and we might give a few shjllings. . Mr. Coates said he }id not want to see a system of relief that woujd irritate people. He expected the complete scheme of organisation would

be ready in about eight days. Wellington and Christchurch and about fourteeen out of the twenty-two boroughs in New Zealand were under action. Position of Women Asked what he intended to do about unemployed girls, Mr. Coates said that he could only repeat that there were organisations in the cities which claimed they could cope with the problem as it affected women. "The Government will take every step to see that the unemployed are provided for," declared Mr. Coates. "It is not a wage we are providing; it is a relief payment. "I may say," he continued, "that the Government has had to put its proposals through in the faee of the sternest opposition. The proposals of the Government have been opposed; have been voted against, and have been misrepresented, not only insidethe House, but outside it also, I am sorry to say. A good deal of it has been directed against the Prime Minister and myself. We have been represented as two men who are not fit to be alive. It is beyond a joke," Mr. Fraser, (Labour Wellington Central) : Who said that? "We are content to leave it to Providence," Mr. Coates said. The men at the head of the Governmept had had long experience and there was no need to create an unsettled and unsatisfactory feeling amongst I the unemployed."