UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 25 November 1930, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD.

FIRST MEETING TO-DAY.

APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

VTH3B P?wSßa Spseial Sertie«,

WELLINGTON, November 24

The first meeting of the Unemployment Board, appointed under tUo terms of the Unemployment Act passed last session, will bo held at Parliament Buildings to-morrow. It is anticipated that tho Board will be sitting mora or less continuously for the noxt few weeks, as the preliminary work will require the eloso attention of members. The Minister will preside at the opening session to-morrow morning, but owhir fcg his many other duties it will not be possible for Mr Smith to he present »t all subsequent meetings, and Ms plao© in tho chair will be taken by Mr BurdoUui. Although every effort will be made to cut down expenditure to the greatest possible extent, it is expected that it will ba necessary for the board to appoint one or more executive officers, and this duty will probably engage the attention of the Board at the earlier meetings. It is not the in tention to set up an elaborate organisation. however, and the co-operation of the various Government Departments will probably enable the Board to function satisfactorily without involving a heavy expenditure.

PAYMENT OF THE LEVY.

A .MINISTER'S VIEW. [THE PRESS Special Service.} AUCKLAND, November 24. '"The public of New Zealand has ftot yet reached the Btnga where it under» stands what is meant by tho 30fe unemployment tax. When it does, no objection will be raised," declared tho Hon. A. J. Murdoch, Minister tor Agriculture, this morning, when sneaking at tho United Party recaption to visiting inemhierß. Mr Murdoch s alt l the tax tor tho betterment of those out of work, a help towards the provision of employment for those unfortunates, and, regarded in that light, the payment Would, he felt sure, be looked upon as a mere bagatelle, causing hardship to none. It had been mado by the Minister fqr Labour that the funds collected by the Unemployment Board Would not be paid put t<o individuals except in cases where local committers failed find work for the men concerned. The essence of the Unemployment Act W9B to provide work for those requiring it, It would be tne endeavour of the committee to untj work in some way, and bo have as mi) c h of jt as possible of a reproductive character. There was power also for industries and owners of property to t»e subsidised to ehable men to be employed on reproductive work at $ later "date. The grants made oouid ba repaid, or a small interest could b« paid on them. There would be no '■kick'' coming about the payment of the 30s when the position was »"' I P understood. After all, the fliim r resented only three "ten bobs that one might spend at the races.

RELIEF WORKS.

unemployment lew. The following report cn unemployment was submitted to the City Council last night by the Water Supply and Works Committee:— The Finance Committee of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee has suggested that the Council should prepare a schedule of works to be carried out with money which will be available from the unemployment levy, and stops have been taken to comply with this suggestion. A schedule »B also being prepared of works to be carried out before Christmas, f°r which it is anticipated the sum ot £I6OO will be available ttom contributions by the Council's general account. the quarrv account, the Municipal Electricity p«partjpnt, together with the Government subsidy. The report was adopted.

LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME. A scheme to relieve unemployment bv settling families on unoccupied lands in the North Island came before the City Council last night. The matter came forward In the shape of a letter from the Elthara Borough Council/ which contained a suggestion made by the Mayor of E|th»m (Mr J. J flridger). TV P^ n wa ? to put about 500 families each year on the unopcu. piPrl Urnls nbO»t Kntnjua and 3ur r rounding disfcriqts, each family to have about 200 acres, free from rent, rates or charges for the first ten years, at the espiratipn pf which tune a graduated scale of payment should be arf* The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration