UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT.

V AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE. FIRST MEETING OF BOARD. (FKES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGItAM.) WELLINGTON. November 25. An optimistic view of the outcome of the work of the Unemployment Board "was taken by members of the Board at the first meeting to-day. The Minister for Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, wlio presided, emphasised the need for team work and in this he had the support of his colleagues. The Minister said he desired to congratulate members of the Board, other than the Government nominees, on having secured the nominations of tho people they represented in everyday life. In regard to the Government nominees, the number of persons who were recommended to the Government was nearly as great as those nominated for the other positions, and in the appointment of the Board the Government had been confronted with a very big problem by reason of the great number of experienced men from whom it, had' to choose. It was very gratifying to know that the Board had met with almost universal acceptance, and with one or two exceptions there had been no comment as to the personnel. Mr Smith said he wanted to make it clear that the Board was entirely free from Government control. It had been suggested that the Board had been appointed for the sole purpose of carrying; out whatever the Government wished, but he was sure he knew sufficient of the Board members to know that had such been the case they would not have accepted .office. The Board would get no interference from the Government; it would get nothing but the greatest possible' assistance. Co-operation Desired. It was his hope, said tho Minister, that the setting up of tho:Board would

] eventually do away with tho necessity I for tho Unemployment Act and that i tho primary and secondary industries J would be stimulated to such an extent ' that they would be able to look forward I to many years free from unemployment. He hoped the functions of the Hoard would not be .concentrated in Wellington but there would be a policy of decentralisation. It should be their aim to secure the co-operation of people in the various centres, people who understood the type of man who was applying for work. If they could sccnrq that co-operation assist tho Board very materially in grappling with the problem. Members of the Board thanked the Minister for his remarks and congratulated the Government on the legislation dealing with unemployment. The Board then went into committee. It was announced that Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, would act as Chief Executive Officer.