N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1931, Page 6

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

1 NEW BOARD’S ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 25. The opinion that the Unemployment Board would now have to devote its attention to the promotion of reproductive works if an increased levy were to be avoided, was expressed by one of its members, Major J. S. Jessup, this evening, when the retiring representatives were presented with an enlarged photograph of the old Board, and the 'Minister of Labour (Hon. Mr Smith), the Chairman. The speaker emphasised the esteem in which Mr Smith was held by those who had been grappling with the unemployment problem for the last eight months.. In speaking on behalf of the new Board at the conclusion of the function, Major Jessep said that it was fully recognised that those who had done the preliminary work had blazed a trail along which the others would have to "follow. Niew Zealand was coming to realise that it would be impossible for the present unemployment expenditure to be continued, unless some return were secured for the State, or unless there was a return sufficient to provide something for -the carrying on of the work. It was questionable, even now, whether some realised the magnitude of the task entrusted to the .Board. The spirit of co-operation that had existed was one of the most remarkable features of the Board’s work. It had been said that the Minister was not entirely satisfied with the old Board, aud that, if he had been, there would have been no need to reconstitute the Board. However, there had been an insistent demand for a smaller Board, and great pressure was brought to bear upon the Government to reconstitute the body, and to appoint to it men who Were not drawn from a particular source. No possible reflection could be cast on the old Board. r l he new Board came into operation with a deficit of £250,000, left to it by its predecessors. But for this legacy, they would not have been faced with the problem of doing a great. work with a paucity of funds. He knew that, when the time caine for the Board to undertake constructive work, it would realise that credit was due to the- old Board for the work it had carried out.

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY UNPAID. AUCKLAND, August 24. Allan >O. Lamb, solicitor, and Malcolm Sommerville, were charged at the Whangarei .Magistrate’s Court, with having failed to pay their unemployment levy. Both pleaded guilty. Counsel said (that in 'the circumstances he was afraid little could be ■said in extenuation, other than that jit was an oversight. 1. The Magistrate said he was sorry ; to see a "solicitor and a prominent businessman before, the Court, on a charge of this nature, as both should have known better. Businessmen were causing a lot of unnecessary trouble, which would have to stop. Defendants were convicted and fined £2 with 10s costs. HASTING’S UNEMPLOY ED. HASTINGS, August 26. The following statement has been handed to the Press Association by Mayor Hoacli: “The unemployed position is so acute in Hastings at the present time that I strongly urge workers from other places not to come here In the hope of obtaining employment. Workmen, skilled and unskilled, are still unable to find work in Hastings and we have at present over 800 on our unemployed list, the largest percentag, so far as I can ascertain of any town in the Dominion.”