UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 228, 26 September 1930, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

COUNCIL'S STRONG SUPPORT. AMENDMENT REJECTED. TWENTY VOTES AGAINST NINE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A considerable, change of opinion among Legislative Councillors, compared with their reported views oi last week oil the Unemployment Bill, was evidenced when the amendment to postpone its committal for six months reached the stage of a division to-night. This was defeated by 20 votes to nine, and the Council, without discussion, adopted the short title of the bill in committee. Progress was then reported to enable further committee consideration, and the third reading will be taken on Friday. Points Made in Debate. The Hon. R. Scott (Otago) said he had a strong objection to several clauses in the bill, and would therefore vote against it. The primary producers should have two representatives on the Employment Board. The success of the scheme would depend very largely on the local committees. The Hon. C. J. Carrington said the people were looking to the State for more and more assistance every time they landed themselves in trouble. New Zealand to-day was lacking in leadership. It was high time they tried to encourage a spirit of self-reliance. The Hon. D. Buddo said the idea of the dole had so got into people's minds that they overlooked the fact that the bill provided for an insurance scheme. Surely it was better to have a system of insurance than the present system of charitable aid. The Hon. E..W. Alison supported the amendment moved by the Hon. W. Earnshaw, that the bill should be read after the expiry of six months. Mr. Alison said the passing of the bill would be seriously detrimental to the best inter- j; ests of the Dominion. He did not approve of the constitution of the board, i

, "Baffling Problem." The Hon. 3. A. Hanan said that never 0 before had Parliament had before it U such a baffling problem. A man out of employment was in a state of mind when s , he could very easily become infected by j revolutionary ideas. The principle inr volved in the Unemployment Bill was not new. Mr. Hanan defended the composition of the board, and said there was ample justification for the inclusion of a Minister of the Crown. • The Hon. L. M. Isitt said he saw in 3 the bill certain things which he did not > like, but he had no hesitation in voting 1 for the measure. It was not possible to • frame a perfect bill. » _ The Hon. E. Moore expressed the opinl ion that the Council was justified in f throwing out the bill, as it would onlv ■ create fresh, evils. Replying to the debate, the Leader of the Council, the Hon. E. Masters, said > the bill had gone through the House with- ; out a division. He defended the con- • stitution of the board and said it was better for the State to find work for - workers than to provide charitable aid ; for those who were unable to find work. Mr. Earnshaw's amendment was de- , feated by 20 votes to 9. The division list follows:— For the Bill—2o. Allen Isitt ■Bell Malcolm Buddo Masters Carrington McCallum Clark McGregor. Collins Mclntvre Fagan Smith Hall-Jones Stevenson Hanan Trevethick Hawke Witty Against—9; All son Moore Scott Fleming Snodgrass Gow Triggs Lang