UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1930, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER “The Unemployment Act contains the simple Christain principle of brotherhood,” declared the Minister o'F Labour, the Hon S. G. Smith, at New Plymouth .last .week in explaining its provisions to his constituents. There had been introduced m that Act a bold human.i^i'i an measure and the Government was trying to do something. The

; last industrial conference, which, to \ tlie credit of the Reform Government been set up, had cost the country £4OOO, so the Minister had hesitated to accede :to requests which were pressing him to call another conference, ife>\U'€St;ntatives had gone to the last conference with the firm intention of liotgiving anything away. The only lasting. good was the setting up of the unemployment committee that hau made recommendations after weighing and collecting all available evidence. Those recommendations were the backbone incorporated in the Unemployment Bill which Mr Smith had piloted through the House. The Minister said lie could not com-

mit the board on a matter of policy. He i was only the chairman of the board. The country was setting out on new lines to tackle the problem df unemployment. The Government had schemes to settle people on the land. He considered that recent legislation would reduce New Zealand’s depression to less than that in any country in the world and that in comparison with trade and population New Zealand would emerge from the depression more quickly, than/would any other country If the hoard paid £1,000,000 yearly to help the unemployed it was not using borrowed : money, but was assisting industry and production, earning interest and preserving funds of the board.

WHAT OTHER PARTIES WANTED

The board was not an employer of labour, .said the Minister, but would strive to bring employers and employees together. The Reform party had wanted the bill, but said it didn’t like the sustenance provisions. The Labour party wanted the bill also, but said it didn’t like the flat rate. “But,” said Mr-j Smith, “at the third reading no one. voted against the bill.” Indeed many speakers had failed to use their time in , discussing the bill except for the last few minutes .That was why the speaker had received so many Tetters from other members asking for definite certain clauses.. Women had not been included, in the provisions-of the levy clause, said Mr Smith, because among other reasons thousands of girls and young women lived' at home with their people with-

out going .out to work. If women were 'under the Act directly there would * arise tho. prospect of thousands of girls approaching, the board asking for work thati could not be given, ipd thousands of women might be receiving pin money from the*- Unemployment Board. The •secretary’of the Post Office had assur-

ed hini 'that money had already been received from people who were willing to pay right away and dispose o'f their obligations at once. The amount already paid was' considerable. METHOD OF APPOINTMENT Concerning criticism as to the appo.ntment of members of the board, Mr Smith said the hi 1 had always contained the provision that the board would be appointed by the GovernorGeneral. Co-operation was needed and with that co-operation success and prosperity would come. The main fact was that the board could lend money to farmers for the purpose of employing men to improve the productivity of land. That money would return to the funds of the board with interest.

Deal’ng with casual workers, the Minister said provision was made for waterside workers and men in similar situation. The board could investigate each lease and if the levy had been paid could-make payment if the circumstances of each case justifies it.

Questioned concerning receipts aH administration cost, the Minister said the revenue expected was £SOO,QUO, while the cost of printing payments to the Postal Department, etc., would be from £25,000 to £30,000 each year, plus £2 '2s per member per day per meeting. It was proposed to reduce the costs of utilis ng the facilities of existing Departments for administration. ,