PLACEMENT SCHEME

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 9

PLACEMENT SCHEME

DIRECT AKD INDIRECT BENEFITS MINISTER SURVEYS FOUR MONTHS OPERATION “ My last statement regarding the placement scheme expressed gratification wtih the results then achieved, said the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T, Armstrong) yesterday. “Now. at the end of four months’ practical operation, I can sincerely say that 1 am proud of this scheme which the Government introduced as one means of giving effect to its policy of improving the unfortunate lot of those who, with their dependents, were compelled to suffer a mere existence because of lack of employment. , “ Up to the week ended September 12,” continued the Minister, “3,521' men were absorbed in permanent private employment, 1,305 in casual ppsitions,. and 1,932 in temporary employment. Of the 3,521 permanently placed, 2,702 filled positions in productive industry (primary and secondary), the balance of 819 proceeding to what may be termed unproductive employment. It is accepted by statistical experts that every 100 workers directly engaged in any kind of primary or secondary productive industry maintain 108 Others in non-productive or only indirectly productive work. Relating the above statement to the placement scheme, it is found that: —(1) The 2,702 industrial placements indicate that 2;918 additional workers have been placed in subsidiary employment; (2), that the 5,602 men thus found employment would be supporting 9,900 dependents, .based on the census figures for 1926; (3) in addition to the permanent placements, 1,305 men have been found casual employment and _ 1,932 men placed in temporary positions. These 3,237 men would be supporting 5,700 dependents; (4) the placement scheme, up to the week ended September 9, 1936, has therefore been directly or indirectly responsible for giving a reasonable standard of living to 24,457 individuals, as under:—(a) Permanently, 5,620 men, plus 9,900 dependents; (b) temporarily, 3,237 men, plus 5,700 dependents. “ Naturally.” Mr Armstrong said, “ these results have not been achieved without a great deal of planning and effort on the part of my officers, who have without exception applied themselves assiduously but cheerfully to the task of assisting in the industrial rehabilitation of those formerly unemployed, and in most cases dependent upon relief benefits. Many harrowing accounts of past friendships experienced could be told, but since the advent of the placement scheme and the improvement of relief conditions, these have been almost entirely overshadowed by the recitals of happiness brought to several thousands of homes through the direct or indirect beneficial results of that scheme. The co-operation afforded by employers has been most encouraging, while the really liberal and excellent support so readily extended by the Press of the Dominion has contributed very largely to the almost universal public acceptance of the scheme. To those mentioned above I offer my appreciative thanks and earnestly appeal for continuance of their assistance in what I hope all sections of the community will now regard as a measure meriting their active help. “ Finally,” the Minister added, “ I would urge every employer to take full advantage of the gratuitous service offered. The scheme includes the preplacement verification of past experience and quality of service rendered. This feature is believed to be novel, and ensures, as far as is reasonably possible, the efficiency and integrity of candidates offered to prospective employers. I would stress that by tha nature of their organisation all placement offices are interlinked and each has available an up-to-date record of all classes of labour available from the North Cane to Bluff, thus assuring mobility of labour to the utmost practical degree.”