SUBSIDISED LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1933, Page 13

SUBSIDISED LABOUR

IN BUILDING INDUSTRY;

Referring to the Unemployment Board's scheme o£ subsidised labour, the annual report of the New Zealand Federated Builders' and Contractors' Industrial Association of Employers remarks: —

"If the object o£ the board is achieved, namely, to encourage people to take advantage of the scheme, thereby relieving unemployment, it means that owners pay for all the materials required for the jobs undertaken, and pay two-thirds of the wages to imemployed workers engaged thereon. The result is that the money'expended by owners and the amount paid by way of subsidy on unemployed labour by tVe board under the scheme represents definite assets, with the circulation. of money, which must benefit the'community generally, whereas without such a schema-' the board would have continued to expend, the moneys which it pays by way of bud-, sidy, on wages to unemployed workers engaged on unproductive- works. . • :: ■ "While the scheme may not be all that could -be desired, nevertheless it is' a definite attempt to restore confidence and: to assist in the direction of relieving unemployment, and it is hoped that the results so much desired will be- achieved."

Speaking subsequently on this subject; Mr. W. Ellis (Dunedin) said that, although the scheme might not be perfect, the Government, nevertheless, should be congratulated on trying to help someone else except the farmer. The key to the situation, was the provision of cheap money so as to enable people to- build.