EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1015, 4 July 1930, Page 11

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

MANUFACTURERS SUPPORT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION BY FEDERATION From Our Resident Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. Several delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation yesterday support**! tlio recommendations of the committee appointed by the Government to inquire into the unemployment problem. A remit was put forward by the president, Mr. G. Finn, of Auckland, who expressed liimself as being strongly against any form of unemployment insurance, but in accordance with the opinion of the majority Mr. Finn withdrew that part of the remit relating to insurance. The remit submitted by Mr. Finn was as follows:—"That this conference is strongly of opinion that unemployment insurance in any form is an aggravation of rather than a cure for unemployment; that a properly constituted development of industries board could do much to solve the unemployment problem; and that the Government be again approached with regard to its establishment.” Mr. Finn contended that his propos il would assist in the removal of the unemployment problem, and said they should voice their opinion on it. Ho thought unemployment was not so difficult to handle as some people thought, and had it been properly dealt with two years ago they’ would not have been troubled with it today. The antidote for unemployment was not to be found in any textbook, for the gernr was a social one and the cure an incentive to work. If they accepted unemployment as a development of the age they would lay the foundation for pauperism and permanent unemployment. A committee should be appointed to deal with it. This was a work which could well b#3 entrusted to a New Zealand industries board. Efforts to establish such a board or committee had failed, but he hoped they would be more successful in the near future. Certain legislation had been recommended, which, in hi» opinion, was based on theory instead of on facts. After years of discouragement, with patience and perseverance the manufacturers were beginning to see daylight, and, with a capable board, with continuity of policy, the Dominion would make headway and prosper. “WORK, NOT DOLES’* Mr. G. Mills Palmer, of Auckland, referred to the quantity of goods which were being imported and which might be made in New Zealand. He said they wanted to give men work, not doles. Mr. L. K. Partridge, of Wellington, related his experience of the unemployment problem in England, and said he was convinced that unemployment insurance was one of the things which must be introduced in New Zealand. They had a dole in England, but without it there would have l*een revolution. The employers and employees contributed to the unemployment insurance, and the genuine workers wou.d see that no one was allowed to loaf on the fund. In New Zealand, said Mr. Partridge, they had to pay for unemployment through rates and taxes, or by contributions to various funds. An unemployment insurance scheme would lighten the burden and not add to it. Mr. F. Campbell, of Wellington, said he thought some insurance scheme would have to be introduced. There were portions of tho committee’s report which deserved the approval of the federation, especially those provisions which would keep the loafer out. Air Finn said he would be sorry t see unemployment insurance in Xe Zealand. He would rather contribut toward temporary relief. It was r r the duty of the Government to prov \ relief works. He asked why tit*should not have reai work provided b private enterprise. The Government he said, should make some of the thou sands of acres of land open for development. A subsidy of £ 1 an acre would not cost more than £500.000. ond from that land they would produce at least £1,500,000. which would surely be better than carrying on non-produc-tive relief work. In view of what other speakers had said, added Air. Finn, he would withdraw’ the first sentence of the remit relating to insurance. This was agreed to and the second portion of the remit was adopted.