488 



Works for the Belief of Unemployment. 



[Sept., 



LAND DRAINAGE WORKS FOR THE 

 RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT. 



C. H. J. Clayton, M.Inst.C.E., 



Ministry of Agnculture and Fisheries. 



In view of the exceptional amount of unemployment which 

 existed in the autumn of 1921 a substantial sum was voted by 

 Parliament for additional relief works. At the request of the 

 Ministry a portion of that sum was allocated to drainage works 

 for the purpose of alleviating unemployment among agricultural 

 and other workmen in rural areas which were, in many cases, 

 not provided for under previous schemes. 



On 14th and 21st October last, the Ministry issued circulars 

 addressed to Drainage x\uthorities and County Councils respec- 

 tively inviting them to submit schemes and estimates for the 

 improvement of drainage conditions within their areas of juris- 

 diction, for the alleviation of unemployment. The principal 

 conditions laid down were that the work was to be carried out 

 as far as possible by hand labour so as to absorb the maximum 

 number of men; that 75 per cent, of the labour should be re- 

 cruited from ex- Service men, the balance to be married civi- 

 lians if available; that the work should be subject to the 

 inspection and general supervision of the Ministry's technical 

 staff; and that proper accounts should be kept. 



The whole cost of approved schemes was to be advanced by 

 the Ministry to the Drainage Authorities or County Councils 

 who were respectively to repay to the Ministry within stated 

 periods 25 per cent, and 33 J per cent., the latter under 

 guarantee by the owners concerned. In a few exceptional 

 cases repayments up to 50 per cent, of the sums advanced 

 were arranged. 



It was recognised at the outset that the winter season was 

 not the most favourable for work in the larger channels, and 

 suggestions were offered as to the possibility of useful work 

 being done in small tributary rivers, brooks, main and tributary 

 drains and field ditches. 



Later, the County Councils were invited to submit schemes 

 for water-supply to farms or groups of farms under similar 

 conditions as to labour, but instead of advancing the whole 

 cost of each scheme and recovering a percentage, the Ministry 

 made a free grant in each case not exceeding the cost of un- 

 skilled unemployed labour on the scheme, or half the cost of 

 the scheme, whichever was the less. 



