TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. " '0

THE UNEMPLOYMENT BIIX.

Moving the committal of the Unemployment Bill, tho Leader of the Council (the Hon. B. Masters) outlined the steps leading up to the introduction of the Bill, referring to the' deliberations of tho National Industrial Conference " and the. Unemployment Committee. As a result of the report of the latter Committee tliey had before them an Unemployment Bill. The. Bill might not be perfect, but he was sure every Councillor would, be sincerely desirous of helping to solve or, at. least, relieve the unemployment problem. Unemployment was. a national responsibility, and called for. the serious consideration of everybody. The Bill was an attempt to meet the .problem. At present New Zealand was spending in a somewhat 'haphazard way £1,400,000 a year on unemployment, and it was hoped by tho Bill to make for a more scientific distribution of the load." The Hon. W. Earnshaw: "Question!" New Zealand, said Mr. Masters, had a great deal of seasonal employment, and that aggravated the position. Machinery had also played a big part in bringing about unemployment. Howover, one of tho greatest causes was 'tho drop in the price of the country's produce, which was. down almost to a pre-war-level. Mr. Masters proceeded ""So refer' in detail to the various clauses' in the. Bill. Eeferring to the levy of 30s a year, Mr. Masters said the amount was not nearly so large as was the case in. the Australian States. ' '",-; ■■■-.- The Leader of the Council expressed the opinion-that ife.-wquld be impracticable to bring'women under the scheme, as to all intents and purposes women ■were out of the industrial field. Dealing with the board, Mr. Masters said the ■ Government " realised that it •was' important >' that the very ; -Tjest men; available -should be appointed 'to it, as-on the bOara would depend the sHccess-or failure of the scheme. •....