UNWISE CUTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 690, 16 November 1933, Page 5

UNWISE CUTS

(Press Assn.-

MINISTER GIVES LITTLE ' HOPE' OF INCREASE - ^ IN PAYili' REVENUE OVERSPENT

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

Wellington, Wedhesaay. A deputatibri from members of Parliament waited on the Minister of Employment, Hon. A. Hamilton, to-day, urging that the cuts iii the relief allocations be restored. The deputation included Hon. J. A. Young (Hamilton), and Messrs. MacPherson (Oamaru), W. E. Barnard (Napier), and P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua), wbo represented Mr.. A. E. Ansell (Chalmers). It was stated tbat Messrs. Campbell (Hawke's Bay) and Lye (Waikato), were also associated with the request. The speakers said that the cuts were made because seasonable occupations had to be taken into account, bpt in southerri districts seasonal ocoupations did not begin for some weeks. In regard to Waikato it was stated that. the only seasonal occupation of consaquenee was. haymaking, and it was too soon for that yet. The Minister remarked that the unemployed could get on better in the country than in the town, and Mx*. MaePherson said that -this was admitted. • The Minister's Reply. The Minister, in his reply, said that the winter allocations could not be increased without decreasing the summer one. In winter the board was spending from £10,000 to £20,000 more than the average weekly income. To-day that income was £83,000 or £84,000, and the board was spending over £100,000. Several schemes were still in operation- without cuts. The board did not take into account the -amount of relief -local organisations gave. It did not reduce the allocations if local organisations were generous. It was cheaper and perhaps better, from the taxpayers' point of view, .for that assistance to be given by local effort rather than taxation generally. He would go into the matters raised, but did not know that' he could hold out much hope. Mr. MaePherson: "Give us a ray of hope to cheer them up."