N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1931, Page 1

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

MEMBER OF OLD BOARD’S VIEWS. ißy Teleyruph — L'er I'ress Association, WELLINGTON September 23. In an interview Mr BurdJiin, late deputy Chairman of ihe old Unemployment Board says the amioun unent made by Mr Jessep of the intention of the Board to supersede scln me live is in accord with the determination arrived at by tin* old Board before it disbanded.

At tile same time, it should not ho forgotten that when .scheme five was introduced, the Board wa.s laced with numbers growing by thousands every week, and advantage had to be immediately taken of seme existing organisation to enable men to he absorbed into channels of employment, s> that the policy of work lor relief should he carried out in all cases

Mr Burdekin goes on to say the only existing organisation.;; were local bodies and in the scrapping of the old scheme, full credit must be giv. n them for their response, which had p need a heavy strain on their resources in these difficult times, when there had been an insistent clamour for a reduction of rates and expenses of administration. The original purpose haying been served of finding immediate cmj loyi; cut and the time havin'! thus been gained to'consider other forms of absorbing unemployed, it is now possible Eradua.ly to place men in!o other am 1 mere directly reproductive channels. Mr Burdkin pays a tribute to the fate Minister of Labour, (Hon Smith), having no hesitation in saying the unemployed workers of the New Zealand ] rd no better friend work ng f r tin m daring this period of dire stress than Mr Smith, who never scared himself in In's effoits to improve their pos'ti n a!nd in every Avav possible to relieve their distress.