Fewer Persons Work On State-Subsidised Schemes

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 5

Fewer Persons Work On State-Subsidised Schemes

The annual report of the employment division of the National Service Department states that on April 4 there were 2413 workers employed under the various Government schemes for full-time subsidised employment. The total on April 5, 1941, was 7520. Total expenditure under the • employment promotion schemes for the 12 months to March 31 was £1.288,432, or a fall of £1,124,354 from the previous year's total of £2,412,786. Scheme 4B, under which subsidies up to 75 per cent. of the wages cost are provided for the employment of registered and eligible men on a contract basis for the improvement and development of farms, had 2096 men allocated to it during the year to March 31. The total labour cost was £225,572, and total of subsidies, £158,206. Estimated stock increases which resulted were: Sheep, 69,925; cows, 7546; cattle, 3339; and pigs, 287. Up to April 4 last, 1283 inexperienced farm handds had been placed for training under Scheme 4F, which provides subsidies for 12 months on the basis of 30s for the first six months and 15s a week for the second six months in respect of the employment of inexperienced labour on operational farm work. It also allows a house allowance of £1 a week for married workers forced to be separated from their families. Of the 1283 men placed during the year, only 70 were still employed on April 4. Scheme 13, providing for the full-time employment at award rates with local bodies and other employing authorities, was absorbing 2092 men on April 4. The report states that the large majority of the men were definitely unfit and suitable for only the lightest type of work.