RELIEF PLANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 7

RELIEF PLANS.

NEW REGULATIONS. Unemployment Debate Begins In House of Commons. GREAT SOCIAL PROBLEM. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, July 22. An important three days' debate in the House of Commons on the draft unemployment assistance regulations was opened yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Ernest Brown, who moved for their approval.

The regulations are tlie second set to be issued under the 1934 Act setting up a new administration of unemployment, assistance for those who have exhausted their insurance benefits.

The first draft regulations were partially suspended 18 months ago as the result of general criticism in all parts of the House of Commons. The new regulations, if approved, will come into effect on November 1(5.

Mr. Brown claimed that the proposals formed a sound and just foundation for a solution of the great social problem involved. In defending the household means test, he said that if the relief of unemployment was to be a charge upon the national Exchequer, it was only common justice to all who paid taxes, including the ordinary man in work, to see to it that the proceeds of their industry were not wantonly and needlessly frittered away. The Minister drew the attention of the House to the provisions for a more flexible application of the rules regarding allowances for rent and to those for the association of local advisory committees with eases, of which there were many, in which discretionary adjustments of payments were permitted. Mr. Brown taunted the Opposition with the failure of the attempt which he alleged on its part to stir up an agitation in the country against the regulations. Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Lab., Wakefield), moved an amendment condemning the. regulations and declaring his party's unalterable objection to the household means test.