SEEKING CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 122, 13 August 1927, Page 9

SEEKING CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

A LABOUR DEPUTATION WORK AND INSURANCE (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. That the Government should adopt a Bill providing for unemployment insurance on a contributory basis was urged upon the Minister of Labour. Hon. G. J. Anderson, to-day, when a representative deputation waited upon him. Air. JP. Fraser. M.P.. said he had introduced year after year his Unemployed Workers’ Bill, which had had a much more, favourable hearing last year when it had its second reading, and was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. That committee had agreed that something in the nature of unemployment insurance should be provided. His Bill provided for unemployment insurance on a non-contributory basis as far as the workers were concerned. The broad principles of unemployment insurance seemed to be financially acceptable in British communities. The New Zealand Labour movement attached much importance to the organisation of the supply and demand in respect of labour. They proposed that an unemployment board or council should be set up representing the Government and the various local bodies to look ahead for 12 months, and make a forecast of labour conditions, and to push ahead or keep back public works so as to fit in with the fluctuations of the labour market and seasonal employment, and thus help to keep down unemployment Mr. W. Bromley, representing the district council of the Alliance of Labour, said the first consideration was to find work for all, and not merely to create a fund that would be only a palliative. The Minister said that frankly he had never been much in favour of unemployment insurance in a country like New' Zealand, which was oniy partly developed. His study of the problem had led him to favour a scheme for insurance against illhealth. Conditions in New Zealand had altered considerably during the last two years, however. With an adverse balance of trade they had had depression and unemployment. He would deal with the whole matter immediately and report to the Cabinet, and would see what could be done, if not on their lines, then on some other.