UNEMPLOYMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1935, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT.

HANDLING OF FUNDS. LABOUR MEMBERS CRITICAL DEFENCE BY MINISTER. (B.v Telegraph. —Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, tliis day. Consideration of the Estimates for the Unemployment Board in the House to-night found Labour members in critical mood, ancl they held up the passage of the vote for some time, during which they made many uncomplimentary references to the Government's administration of the problem. In a comprehensive reply to questions and complaints, tlie'Minister of Employment, Mr. Smith, indicated that the problem of unemployed youth had been receiving close attention,, with a view to formulating a policy, and that it was hoped to place more men on the land in collaboration with the Lands Department, and he reaffirmed the intention of the Government to replace No. 5 scheme with full-time work. The Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Savage, declared that as long as the present-day methods existed there was no hope . for unemployment. It was growing and had become established as a chronic , and permanent institution. He referred to the increase in the cost of administration, and said that while everything was going up the average unemployed man was just about down and out. It made one sick to think about it. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino) criticised the increase in travelling expenses. "These people get 30/ a day and it comes out of the unemployment funds," ho said. The Minister: There is no charge against the unemployment funds. Mr. Langstone: I am not talking of the Minister. Members go round inspecting tho small farm schemes and they don't know any more about small farms than a pig knows about raspberry jam. Multiplicity Of Rates. The member contended that tho fund could be administered in a better way. The board had done nothing to solve the problem of unemployment. If tiio £4,500,000 were handed over to the Public Works Department it could do all the work that was necessary. Ho considered also that tho multiplicity of rates of pay would cause trouble "and discontent among relief workers, Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) wanted to know whether the board [.intended to continue with the building subsidy and whether it intended to help Boots to build a lot of cheap chain stores and close down family chemists. J The Minister: No. Mr. Lee said he was glad to have the Minister's assurance that the unemployment funds would not be pillaged to help build those stores. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Independent, Thames) said that he also was glad to have an assurance that overseas lirms like Boots would hot bo subsidised. He said that there were languishing industries in New Zealand that would benefit if they ware helped by the unemployment funds, particularly in tho direction of employing skilled labour.

Mr. R. Semple (Labour, Wellington East) criticised the increasing cost of the administration of the unemployment funds. He did not object to paying decen't salaries to any officer who had worked tip, but it seemed to him that the cost of running the institution was creeping up each year. In view of the public assurance given by the Minister that the board's policy would absorb the majority of the unemployed in permanent work he asked how would he justify the estimated expenditure for the coming year. Ho declared that it had been the policy of tho board to increase unemployment and reduce tho standard of living of thousands of unemployed in the Dominion. Mr. P. C. Webb (Labour, Buller) commended the work of the new commissioner, but criticised the lack of provision for unemployed youths under the age of 20 years. Until they reached that age, he said, they were practically • outcasts and no one wanted them. It was a social crime that they should be denied tho opportunity for self-expres-sion and the right to work. He asked that the board's policy should bo changed in order to make work for them. Inspection Of Small Farms. Replying categorically to the questions put to him, the Minister said that the board members' salaries and travelling allowances only were a chargc against the board; none of those expenses included those of the Minister. Referring to the inspection of small farms, Mr. 'Smith said that the policy of the board was to get the men back on the land, in conjunction with the Lands Department, and it was nccessary for members to inspect the schemes into which the board's money was being put. There were hundreds of workers engaged on farm development schemes, and those men would later be placed on farms of their own at no. cost to themselves., There was ho place in the world that did that. Mr. W. E. Barnard /Labour, Napier): Where are these farms? The Minister: In various parts of the .country. Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour, Westland): At no cost to them? The Minister: The men will not be called upon to pay a single sixpence. Coming to the question of the building subsidy, the Minister said that as a result of the subsidy, combined with the tariff, tho small timber mills had been able to-give men full-time employment. The board's policy so far as No. 5 scheme 1 was concerned Was to replace that' scheme as far as possible with full-time employment. It , was in the national interest to grapple Avith the youth unemployment problem, and he hoped in a few months to indicate a 'policy that would enable tile board to make up the Jeeway lost in the depression in the matter of training.