UNEMPLOYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 184, 5 August 1936, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED.

relief measures.

FINDING MORE JOBS.

fund for current year."

OVER £4,500,000 AVAILABLE,

(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Heporter.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

"Progress towards full employment must be made through the extension of our secondary industries and development of new industries and services," said Mr. Nash in the course of his Budget speech to-night. "To this end the Minister of Industries and Commerce has set up a Bureau of Industry to investigate and develop new industries,gud provision for financial assistance for this purpose bas already been made.

"In the interim period the first essential was to remove the immediate distress prevailing throughout the Dominion, and shortly after assumption of office £270,000 was distributed' to the unemployed to' enable them to enjoy some pleasure during the Christmas period. Two months later, on March 2, all relief rates were reviewed, the unemployed in the provincial towns being placed on the same basis as those in the cities. On June 1, after a comprehensive review of conditions and finances, it was decided to increase all rates of pay, the increases varying from 4/ per week in the case of single men up to 19/6 per week for married men with large families. The sustenance rates were also increased by from 3/ to 13/ per week. Conditions were improved and income scales raised. The increases as compared with last year involved £800,000. These were inevitably temporary measures.

"The difficulties of the task are recognised, but on its successful achievement depends the health and happiness of our people. It is realised that the reorganisation of the industrial activities of the whole community and the obtaining of a proper balance between industries are matters requiring sustained effort. Every one must recognise that 'under any rational economic order every person willing to work is entitled to the things necessary for a reasonable standard of living. If science, power, and the machine displace human labour, then social economic and financial procedure must be adjusted to the new conditions. Sound Public Works Policy. "While engaged in these plans, the Government is promoting as much fulltime employment as possible. One of the means adopted to this end is the acceleration of a sound public works policy under which, a large number of men are engaged in creating assets of national benefit. I will, have more to say in regard to public works presently. Local bodies, also, recognise their responsibilities to the people within their areas and generally, with the aid of subsidies from the Employment Fund, are making efforts to assist the Government 'by expanding their programmes of work."

The resources of the fund were also being used to promote full-time work in other directions. One such avenue was the gold-prospecting schemes which had provided considerable employment, and in some districts particularly the results obtained had been distinctly encouraging. The policy in that connection was now being directed more towards the organisation of large parties to explore thoroughly likely areas for gold-bearing reefs with a view to the opening up of new fields and the restoration of the industry on a more permanent basis.

"A general activity of the Labour Department that has proved very successful in obtaining full-time work for unemployed "is what is known as the Placement Scheme," continued Mr. Nash. "In the past the Department has operated small labour exchanges, but recently these activities have been entirely reorganised and plans drawn up to cover fully the employment field. During the ten weeks of effective life of the new plan, no less than 1462 men have been placed in permanent employment and 1185 in temporary positions.

"Concerning the finances of the Employment Fund, reference to the Public Accounts will show that the total amount available last financial year was £5,259;063, inclining balance carried forward £1,332.946, and revenue from taxation £3.020,026. Of the revenue of £3,920,026, the sum of £416,335 was received from the general unemployment levy, £2,465,019 was received from the wages tax and £1,035,672 from the special charge on ' other income.' Allowing for the reduction in the tax to Sd in the £ for the second half of the year, the revenue proved to be buoyant and well up to expectations. In fact, the actual collections of wages tax indicate that the aggregate amount of wages and salaries paid in the Dominion during the year was increased by at least £5,000,000.

Disbursements Total £4,882,852. "Disbursements from the fund for last year totalled £4,552,552, made up as follows:— Relief payments under various schemes £3,464.104 Food, clothing and other necessities ; 98 445 Sustenance payments 807.005 Sundry loans and grants 145,761 Christmas bnnn.i find other miscellaneous payments 160.003 Administration expenses 200,844 Total £4,552.582

"Tlic year closed with a credit balance of £400.711 in the fund, against which there were considerable commitments. For the c'irrent financial year it is estimated, on the present basis of taxation, that the revenue will amount to £4.210.000, and this, with the balance carried forward, will provide a total of £4,016.711. With the acceleration of full-time employment at standard rates of pay bv the Government, local bodies and in industry generally, it is now estimated that this stun will be sufficient to meet the estimated expenditure for work relief, sustenance and other charges on the Employment Promotion Fund. At one slape it appeared likely that there would be a temporary shortage in the Employment Fund, and provision was made in the Imprest Supply Act to transfer up to £300,000 from the Consolidated Fund. As it turned out, it was not necessary to make use of tin? provision."