WHAKATANE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 December 1932, Page 7

WHAKATANE

j UNEMPLOYMENT j — I CON STERN ATION EXPRESSED OYER RECENT CUTS. SERIOUS POSITION. Consternation was expressed at the meeting of th'e Whakatane Unemployment Committee on Tuesday evening when it was learned that the boaird's subsidy was insuffieient to provide an average of £1 per man. It was unanimously decided to represent the position to the boai'd at Wellington and to point ont that it was impossihle for men to exist on sueh a small allocation. Mr. W. Sullivan, Mayor of Whakatane, chairman of the local committee, presided. Others present were Messrs. W. G. Howat, A. F. Moncur, W. G. Cartwright (Y/hakatane Borough Council), 0. H. Brebnei' (Whakatane County Council), and O. E. List (certifying offieer). Mr. Walter Reid, chairman, Whakatane County Council, forwarded ian opology for his absence. Five applications for the right to employ men under the No. 4A scheme were received. The committee generally stressed the point that with so mueh seasonal work offering, they should require very strict compliance with the conditions as set down hy the Unemployment Board. Acting on this, only one of the five applications was granted. Eight .-applications for registration as unemployed were received. Five were granted. Numerous circulars from the >oard dealing with coupon hook numhers, provision for dependants of relief workers, Christmas holidays, vegetahle production, and relief work for farmers under tlie No. 5 scheme were considei'ed. Chief of interest in these weir those dealing with farmers iSeeking

and ohtaining relief under the No. h scheme. The board has now definitely directed that after December 31, 1932, no person in oecupation of farm lands, whether that land is in his own or his wife's narne, shall be granted relief under the No. 5 scheme. However, it is open to local committees to recommend that such men be granted, if the committees are fully satisfied that such is warranted, assistance under the No. 4A scheme. The executive's action in terminating four No. 4A scheme contracts reported hy the enquiry offieer for hreaches hy employees being . engaged in seasonal work and milking, was confirmed. Letters from two of the employers concerned offering explanations were received. A report of the committe'e operations since July 1 last was submitted by the secretary. Tberein it was disclosed that thc number of laaen engaged under the No. 5 scheme has remained fairly eonstant at around 180. Of these, -approximately 100 have been Europeans and the halance Maoris. During the- five months covered hy the report, the weekly allocation has fluctuated considerahly. At the beginning of July this was about £260; it reached its maximum of £390 at the oeginning of August, since when it has heen steadily deereasing until now it is £175. The amount spent in this district under the No. 5 scheme since the inception of the scheme is set down at £16,855, of which £5188 has been spent since Jnly 4 last.| Of the total, £12,464 has heen expended in the county area, £2300 in the borough, £841 on Ilarbour Board works, £562 on the Whakatane Sehool grounds, £153 on the Whakatane Domain. Th'e halance ahs heen expended on minor works. The number of No. 4A contracts has been reduced from 68 in July to 27 at pl'esent. Under the No. 4B scheme 32 contracts of a total value of £1610 have been let; these carried suhsidies varying from 33 1-3 to 50 per cent. The committee approved the rep-ort and as previously stated expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the position that had arisen as a result of the continued decreasing of the weekly allocation, until now they were faced with the position that they had 180 odd men and £175 available.