THE ADMINISTRATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 190, 28 August 1937, Page 4

THE ADMINISTRATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

In a statement on tlio unemploymenfc situation, says tlio Ch.ristcliurcli Press tlie Acting-Minister for Labour, tlie Hon. P. C. Webb, made tlie disturbing revelation tliat in tlio first six nioiitlis of tbis year 1547 men were convicted on cbarges of obtaining un'employment relief by means of misxepresentations. Since tlie nuniber of registerod unemployed in tliis period was never greiater than 30,000, it is a reasonable inferenco that at least one in every 20 of those registered as unemployed was receiving money under false pretences. Probably the proportion was very much liigher. It can be assumed that^the Labour Department does not prosecute unless there is clear evidence of intent to defraud; and a recent batch of prosecutions in Auckland seemed to show that more offenders had slipped through the official net than had been caught by it. The Minister also admits that there have been mcny complaints of men in receipt of unemployment benefits refusing to accept work in country districts. Though the validity of these complaints is difficult to establish, the Minister 's investigations have apparently convinced him that they must be taken seriously. It is clear, therefore, that the time has come for a general stiffening up of unemployment administriation and much more careful inquiries into the _ circumstances of those who are on the unemployment register. The Minister's assurance that it is ''the seTious intention of the Govcrnment" to prevent abuses of the unemployment system will therefore be welcomed. Though the task is not an easy one, it will not be as embarrassing to this Government as it was to the Coalition. Mr Webb and his colleagues can at least be sure that their political opponents will not attempt to make capital out of the inevitable objections which will be made by a seetion of thc unemployed to stricter administration of relief payments.