UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1930, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

THE BOARD MEETS. (By Telegraph—Per Press, Association.) WELLINGTON, November 25. Presiding over the first meeting of the Unemployment Board, Hon. S. G. Smith stressed the need for team work. He congratulated the members other than the Government nominees upon having been selected hv the people they rep resign ted. It was gratifying to the Government that the Board met with almost universal acceptance. He wished to make it quite clear there would be no Government control .of the Board only the. greatest possible assistance. He hoped the Board would eventually do away with the need for the Act and that industries would he stimulated and unemployment abolished.

WELLINGTON November 25

An optimistic view of the outcome of the work of the Unemployment Board was taken by the members of the Board at the first meeting to-day. The Minister of Labour Hon. Mr Smith who presided stressed the need for team work, and in this lie had the support of his colleagues.

In regard to the Government, noininess lie said, the number of persons who were recommended to the Government was nearly as great, as those nominated for the other positions, and in the appointment'of the-'Board, the Government was confronted with a very big problem • 'by feason of the great number of experienced men from whom it had to choose. It was very gratifying to kiiow the Board had met with almost nhiycM’sal acceptance, and With one or two exceptions, there was no comment ns' to the personnel. Mi Smith said he wanted to make it clear that the Board was entirely free from Governnielit control. It had been suggested that the Board was appointed for the sole purpose of carrying out whatever the Government wished, hut lie was sure that lie knew sufficient oi the Board members to know that, had such been the ease, they would not have accepted 1 office. The Board would get no interference from the Government. It would get nothing but the greatest possible assi'tance? It was his hope, said the Minister, that the setting up of the Board would eventually do away with"'the"necessity for the Unemployment, Act, and' that primary and secondary industries wbuld he stimulated to such an extent that they would he able to look forward to many years free from unemployment.'"'' He hoped the functions of ! tl(e Board would hot he concentrated in 'Wellington, hut that there would he 1 a policy of decentralisation. It should he their aim to secure the co-operation of people in the various centres—people who undertl* itood the type oF mau for work. Tf they edivld secure that cooperation, it would" assist the Board very materially iii grappling Avitli the .problem; £•’'• - i>::; '■ : The members (s■-the Board thanked ,the MinisteF'fbr biS" ;, rbhiafks,- and congratulated the Government' 1 on the legislation dealing with unemployment. , Tlie Board then went into committee. ... v. . ..

It was announced' aft of the Unemployment .Board that Mr Mnlcolin Eraser, Government,""Statistician would act, its. the Chief Executive Offi-