LONG DEBATE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 354, 15 October 1932, Page 5

LONG DEBATE

("Post" Special Gommissioner.)

RELIEF POSITION LABOUR REITERATES OLD ARGUMENTS AND CRITICISM IMPREST SUPPLY BILL

Wellington, Friday. Protests against the administfation of unemployment relief were made iin the House of Representatives to-day during the discussion on the Imprest Supply Bill. Particular reference was made to the attitude of the Unemployment Board, in sending men from the cities to the country and to the lack of provision for unemployed yonths. The debate was largely confined to the Labour benches and memhers of the Opposition spent the whole day reiterating arguments which they have frequently used before and in criticising the Government and the Unemployment Board for not doing more for individual cases which were quoted in large numhers. Strenuous Efforts Speaking on hehalf of the Government, Mr. S. G. Smith (New Plymouth) said that the Government has made strenuous efforts to meet the situation. Where appeals had been made to the State Advances superintendent, arrangements had been made to tide the workers over their difficulties. The allocation of relief expenditure was hased on a proper system of registratiori in each di^trict and of investigation into circumstances. Although there had been talk of abuses, nobody on the Opposition side had suggested a different method of allocation. The Unemployment Board Was entitled to sympathy and consideration. Mr. F. Langstone (Lah. Waimarino) It ought to he sacked. Youth Unemployment "If the board was sacked," said Mr. Smith, the problem would still remain. Under existing circumstances, the Very best had been done. Unemployment among youth was one of fhe greatest tragedies of unemployment. In December, 1930, there were 9,826 apprentices in skilled trades and that number had dropped to 6,910 last D'ecemher. Many apprentices had had their apprenticeships cancelled hecause firms had gone out of business. .-ir. Smith' referred to statements that there was no work for the 20,000 boys who left school every year. Of 16,467 who had left school last year, all had gone into occupations with the exception of 1,358 whose destinations were unknown. -ie quoted from the education report in substantiating his statements. Dealing with. unemployment relief, he contrasted the position in New Zealand with that in Australia and said that in New South Wales, in the past year, with nearly 150,00Q unemployed only 650 were on relief work. Mr. Langstone: How did otherg live. "On the dole," Mr. Smith replied. With the change of Government in New South Wales, there had been a change of relief policy. Rsverting to the boy problem in New Zealand, he said that it had been found that only 10 per cent of the boys could be ahsorbed in trade and commerce in the cities. The only other avenue was the land and he expressed the opinion that 98 per cent. of farmers who had taken boys were playing the game. Not Cornect Picture Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) said that 74 per cent. of the girls and 26 per cent. of th'e boys leaving the primary schools, did not know what they were going to do. He claimed that the picture painted by Mr. Smith was not correet. For one thing, a large number of boys were replacing men. He said that during the first half, which was the worst half of the year, the board had spent less th'an half its revenue, though all the time they had pleaded insufficient funds. He made appeal to the Government to do something to keep tenants in their houses. Must Do Something "I intend to divide the House on this issue and will continue to do so at every opportunity in an endeavour to compel the Government to do something," said Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) and moved as an amendment that the Government convene a conference of the representatives of rented hou'ses and tenants, relief workers and the Government for the purpose of making mutually satisfactory arrangements whereby unelhployed workers would have a reasonahle guarantee of shelter for themselves and their families and the owners Would he guaranteed a definite return in the form of rent. The debate was then continued by the Labour members who continued to cite cases of hardship. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Govt. Riccarton) spoke late; in the aftefnooh and quoted cases where relief workers were ; helping _ themselves to such an exteht that they were able to pay their way. His reinark's were gre'eted hy scornful Labour laughter but he challeilged membsrs to aceoinpaiiy him t'o hi's electorate and see proof of his claiiiis. The fdivisioii W&S then faken on Mr. Parry's amendment whicb Was rejected hy 44 to 24. The committee stages on th'e resolution did not occupy mu.ch time, and the Imprest Supply, Bill was introduced shortly h'efore six o'clpck. The Bill provided for votes totalling £4;482,000. After some discussion on the committee stages, the Tbill was passed at 6.40 p.m. and the House rose until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.