UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1928, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

statement by premier. Cy Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright WELLINGTON. Alay 26. The Prime .Minister referring to criticisms levelled at the Government re-unemployment, says the public might he led to believe the speakers alone were concerned with the present unemployment situation, and the Government were doing nothing whatever to cope with it. They fail to appreciate what has been done. The following information will reveal what the Government have done to afford relief to those who have been unable to obtain employment elsewhere:—(.l) During the last financial year approximately 6233 men were sent to the Government relief works throughout the Dominion, and over 3000 men left those works of their own accord. (2) Local Bodies Empowering Act under which local bodies could raise loans for relief of unemployment was extended for another year last session and in addition legislative authority for payment of subsidies to local bodies for works undertaken for relief unemployment was given by Parliament. The total payments were limited by the Imprest Supply Act (No. 1) to £500,000. Subsidies totalling £113.000 were approved during the year and " payments actually made to March 31st last -amount to £75,106.

(3) Tho total expenditure by tlio Government on relief works last year including £75,108 paid in subsidies to local bodies was £472.671.

(4) During a period of seven weeks from April Ist of this year, up to Afay 19th, 1200 men have been sent to the Government relief works which arc losing Undertaken by Public Works anjd Forestry Departments. Of this number 400 men left the works of their own accord.

(5) There are 2750 nven on tlio Government relief works at the present time and arrangements arc in train for placing approximately 1000 additional men as soon as camps can bo erected and works laid out probably within a fortnight’s time. (6) Approximately 11,000 men are being employed by the Public Works Department to date. In addition to this we have to remember that the public woiks programme Ims been» pressed on at a high rate of speed, at a pace faster than would have been normally required, and that about 10,000 men are being absorbed, whereas under ordinary circumstances the number employed would be between 0,000 ano 8,000. With regard to the question. of subsidy to local bodies for unemployment works, Cabinet decided to re-enact the provisions to subsidise local authority unemployment loans, and this fact was definitely announced by my colleague Air Wright when be received a deputation concerning unemployment recently. 1 have been in communication with the Mayor of Wellington regarding a variation of the subsidy paid to local bodies, but no d" cision has been arrived at yet. Tn the meantime, however, the same provision which applied up to March 30t-' last, is being continued and a public statement to this effect, has already been made.

“It is also to be taken into account.” added Air Coates, “ that r

recent decision of the 'Government to undertake a statistical review in order to ascertain the ages, responsibilties, and qualifications of men, with a view to launching a scheme designed to prevent men getting out of employment and where they are unemployed to absorbing them in our various industries.”