UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 263, 20 August 1930, Page 6

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 19. In the House of Representatives today Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) drew the Prime Minister's attention to the seriousness ot tile unemployment situation, and in the course of a lengthy question asked that various steps should be taken to afford relief. , . The Hon. Q. W. Forbes, replying, said the Government was fully alive to the gravity of the position with regard to unemployment, and the Cabinet Committee was mapping out work to be put through the Public Works, Forestry and Lands Department to keep the largest number of men possible in occupation during the next few months. The Unemployment Bill was now before a committee of the House, and he had asked the committee to deal with, it without delay, so that it might be returned to the House andput on the Statute Book as soon as possible. Power would be taken, in the Bill to permit of an advance being made in anticipation of revenue from the proposed levy to allow of some ot tho powers being put into one-ration immediately after the Bill had been passed. Local bodies were being circularised, drawing attention to the Government's subsidy of £2 for £1 for the labour costs of any relief work that was put in hand, and asking them to co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent in their power. The Government would also find £2 for £1 of the labour costs of any relief work carried out by public subscription, which, should encourage the assistance of private citizens in dealing with the present serious unemployment position. The Select Committee which had been set up by the House would be asked to make recommendations to the Government in regard to further avenues of relief work and the facilitating Ot tho employment of men out of work. Mr W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) asked the Minister of Labour what provision was being made for the employment of married men who were unable to leave their homes through ill-health of wives and children. "When married men are offered employment outside the radius of their homes and are unable to accept owing to illness in their families," said Mr Nash, "the registration card is endorsed ' Refused.' A number of applicants are afraid that this endorsement will jeonardise their chances of obtaining work within reasonable proximity of their homes." The Minister of Labour (the Hon. S. G. Smith) said that the only work offering at present available to married men unable to leave their homes was private work. If a married man had ai reasonable .excuse that he was unable to leave.home ho was not prejudiced. The note made on the registration card was purely for record purposes.