UNEMPLOYMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1939, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. REDUCTION IN NUMBERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Particulars of unemployment registrations were announced yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. He said the return for March 1, 1939, in eluding those cn the register who were for health or other reasons unfit fe employment, disclosed a reduction of 6713 as against the corresponding fi ure for March 11, 1938. Compared wit! the position for last month, there was decrease of 445. Details were as follow: — March 1 19? Registered but not on relief 04 On sustenance awaiting placement — On Scheme No. 5 relief 77 726 On sustenance, unfit for employment for health er other reasons, but being afforded relief from the Employment Promotion Fund For the four-weekly period under review, the expenditure from the fund under the heading of promotion of employment, as distinct from relief expenditure, was estimated at £435,121. "This is the last statement of unemployment in the Dominion that will be presented in this form, ’ added Mi Webb.’ "The Employment Promotion Act of 1939 has been repealed, and, under the new social security legislation, no provision exists for the Labour Department to continue its purely unemployment relief activities. This has resulted in the discontinuance from March 31, 1939, of the payment of sustenance, the provision pf rationed work-relief under Scheme No. 5, and the payment of sustenance to those unfit for employment for health or other reasons, but who have been afforded relief from the Employment Promotion Fund.

“In future, the incidence of unemployment will be reflected by the numbers in receipt of unemployment benefits provided under the Social Security Act The activities of the Employment Division of th* Labour Department will, in future, be restricted to the promotion of employment and placement work.”