UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

ACTION THIS SESSION,

LABOUR BILLS COMMITTEE’S

WELLINGTON, Sept. 19

That the Government should take action this session to deal with, unemployment insurance was the recommendation of the Labour Bills Comnviitt.ie when .reporting on, the Unemployed Workers Bill. The committee made this recommendation in the realisation that the Bill in its existing form (it was framed by Mr Fraser, Labour member for Wellington Central) could not proceed.

Following the presentation of this ■report, Labour members urged the Government to introduce s a scheme of unemployment insurance this session, Mr Fraser stating that the Labour Party would be willing to stay on in Wellington for as long as the Government liked, providing the session was extended to make time for enactment of the necessary legislation.

Mr Fletcher, Government member for Grey Lynn, joined with Labour members, and urged the Government to take action. The present proposals would not meet the situation. If the House was in earnest about dealing with unemployment, schemes could be devised. Mr Fletcher said he believed tilings were going to be worse in future, and he felt much trepidation concerning the situation. The time was ripe for action. The report was adopted.

UNEMPLOYMENT ANALYSED. The Labour Department’s reportgives an analysis of the incidence of unemployment, showing that, whereas in former years unskilled workers constituted one-half, the proportion increased in the last two years to twothirds, the remainder being distributed amongst farm hands, drivers, hotel workers and cooks, carpenters and joiners, clerical workers, engineers, gardeners, painters, glaziers, storemen and packers, seamen and urenien, shop assistants and salesmen, and miscellaneous. It was shown that building has slackened during the last two years.

Inquiries made in different districts of the Dominion show the following, reasons for the present state of slack-

ness : Engineering—The increasing use of electricity, for which motors, etc., are imported, has had the effect of slowing up the trade. Electrical trade—Owing to the completion of the bulk of reticulation work, moil employed on wiring are experiencing difficulty in keeping in employment. Saddlery—The trade continues to recede in importance, with the increase in motor traction. Boot manufacturing—lmportations and prejudice against the local article. Those connected with the industry arc optimistic, however, that the Footwean- Conindttc.es deliberations will have a beneficial effect upon the trade. Gum-digging-—lt is estimated that seven hundred men have been compelled to leave the diggings in the Fm North on account of the discovery of a cheap substitute. Sawniilling—Due to importations. The • West Coast and Harnilt n districts report a gradual improvement, whilst Wanganui reports that nine mills have closed on account of the cutting-out of bush, and that no new ones have been opened. Meat freezing—A quiet season has been experienced in several districts, where the amount of stock handled was less than that of last year. New Zealand’s unemployed in July equalled 18,373 per cent of the population, and the opinion is expressed that this is much lower than in ocher countries.