UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 310, 17 October 1929, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

THE report of the committee on unemployment which has been ted to the Minister of Labour is a document which bears evidence of careful thought. It is in striking contrast to much that has been said on the subject by politicians and

others, whose statements at times would make it appear that the abolition of unemployment was a matter of voting for a particular party or a matter of the imposition of a higher tariff. Instead, the committee gets to grips with the problem in an impartial manner and endeavours to

find bedrock solutions. Six causes of unemployment are given: (1) Seasonal unemployment in primary industries; (2) seasonal unemployment in allied industries; (3) unemployment caused through machinery; (4) unemployment caused through substitution of new materials such as oil for coal and electricity for steam; (5) periodic depression; (6) incapacity or improper training. The committee is convinced that , unemployment is a continuing problem bound up with Western civilisation, and it advocates that work supplied should be reproductive and the 'whole question the care of a perman-ent-body. On general lines the report is very sound and little fault can be found with it. In detail it may be that it is not quite so happy, as it would appear that certain aspects are over-stressed. However, this is a matter which can be straightened out as experience is gained and the appointment of a per--5 manent body would do much to bring to the notice of the public many factors which are not so generally appreciated as they might be.

In this connection it will soon become patent when the problem is studied that it cannot be wholly dissolved from certain other social problems, and it may be that the sixth reason . given will be found to be more important and more costly to the nation than is realised. Then again a main consideration in handling this problem is to ensure that greater inducements are made to attract workers to the country. The suggestion of farm workers’ homes is a good one, but much more must be done to dissuade workers from flocking to the towns. There is an economic need for distributing the population evenly, and if penal rates are to be inflicted for telephones and other services they should not be imposed upon the land dweller. Inducements should also be held out to industries to start in the smaller centres instead of concentrating in the larger towns where congestion becomes acute. So far as is possible the need for the casual worker who remains stationary in one place should be done away with unless such worker can earn sufficient in the busy time to carry him over the slack months, when he might be provided with the opportunity of getting an allotment. The question is a big one, but one which can be solved to a large degree with proper and determined organisation, but this is not likely to be brought about until there is more public enlightenment on the question, for many of our present views will have to be somewhat rudely dis turbed if any degree of success is to

be achieved. It is far, far better, however, that money be expended on such recommendations as have already been made by the committee than on providing pensions for those out of work, without an accompanying determined effort to solve certain problems and provide work.