THE UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1933, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED

QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE HOUSE

i NO PROMISE OF CHANGE

WELLINGTON, Oct 19

Though, numprous questions were asked in the House last evening concerning unemployment in not one instance <Fd the Minister (the Hon Adam Hamilton), gave, a promise to alter existing Conditions. Tlie Minister also stated that the piecework system, which has been introduced on relief wo,rl>, was not qn innovation, as it had been the recognised policy of the Public Works ! 3)epartipent for a long time. “This question 'ipi'plies that piecework is an innovation just being infroyhiced by the Unemployment Board, and tliis is. quite incorrect,” said the Minister, in replying to. a request made by Mr .Sullivan ■ (Avon) for an assurance that the piecework system would be withdrawn. The Minister added that the system of payment by results had long been the recognised policy of the Public. Works Department. Two relief Works near Christchurch, one a Public Works job and the other carried on by the Waimakariri River Trust, had recently been changed from clay work to co-operative contract work. This had been found to.he necessary, and Avas adopted been use. men employed on these jobs Avere deliberately going sloav. The quality of material being shifted Avas qs low--as from 1 yard to 2.2 yards per man per day. “The board is satisfied that tliis practice of doing as tittle as possible is not in general favour Avith a majority of the unemployed,” continued the Minister. Where -works Avere undertaken.solely for the purpose of providing useful employment it was essential, in the interests of everyone that the ipen,should gWe a fair return of labour for the wages received. This should also apply to ordinary relief work, but pro’ j hably. not to , the same extent, and the board Avas not . anxious to make the earning of ordinary relief work too difficult.

INVESTIGATION PROMISED : : A promise to have an, investigation made Was given by the Minister to Mr Richards (Roskill), Avho dreAV Mr Hamilton’s attention to a report in Avhich the Re\ r W. W. A veri.il Avas stated to have said that unemployment had brought a return of sAA’eated labour in Auckland, and that in his parish a. girl was making boys’ trousers fox 3s 6 aidozen. Mr Richards asked rvhether the labour. Department would take steps to prevent sweating, and if it Avere found that the present law gave an insufficient remedy would he introduce a suitable amendment.

No additional pay could be granted to relief workers for Labour Day, but those delegated to work that day on the. No. 5 Scbeme ; would, as. was the case last year, be paid as though they had worked, said the Minister, in reply to Mr Jordan (Manukau), avlio asked for an extra day’s, pay for relief Avorkers on Labour Day. The Minister added that workers employed on other schemes Avould not ho affected.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION : The position of registered unemployed who desired to contract themselves out of the provisions of tlie Workers’ Compensation Act wa's explained by the Minister in response to a request by Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) for a statement of the Government’s attitude towards this matter, and for the cancellation of the Instruction Avliic-h permits relief Avorkers to take this action.

“Quite a number of registered unemployed declare , that they are suffering from permanent physical disability, ar.d i'f quest that they . be. allowed to sign forms to that effect, with a vieAV of securing light employment,”’replied the Minister. Approximately 20.00. forms had been, completed for contracting cut, hut in only- about 200 cases had they been submitted to a magistrate for approval. ■ Replying to Mrs McCombs (Llttelton), the .Minister stated it Avas not the intention of the Government to amend the Unemployment Act to make provision for youths between sixteen i and twenty-one years of age and for I Women and girls. The Minister made it clear in replies j tp Mr Anstll (Chambers) and Mr Samuel (Thames) that there is no intention of making the scale of- relief pay uniform in both cities and country ■areas. “Speaking genarally,” said the 'Minister, “the needs of unemployed in country districts are not so great and pressing as those of unemployed iesifling in the cities.”

COLDMINING SUBSIDY .' Dealing with a question submitted by Mr O’Brien (Westland) asking whether the Minister would make arrangements for. goldminers on subsidies granted by the Unemployment Board to repay the subsidies at the* rate of 10 per cent of gold won, only when the amount of gold iron exceeded in value £3' per week, the Minister said any man who was winning gold of a value in excess of £3 per week would lose the> subsidy immediately. Refund of the total subsidy would only be required where a man made a substantial find. A straight-out denial that unemployment funds had been used for the renovation of ministerial and secretarial suites in Parliament Buildings was given by the Minister in reply to a question- asked by Mr. Mason (Auckland Suburbs).