MEN VOLUNTARILY UNEMPLOYED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 5

MEN VOLUNTARILY UNEMPLOYED

SPECIAL COMMITTEES SET UP

PROVISION FOR HEARING APPEALS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 17. . The Minister of National Service (the Hon. A. McLagan) announced today that the Government had set up special committees to hear appeals by workers who might be declared voluntarily unemployed, and thus be ineligible to receive unemployment benefits under the Social Security Act. Mr McLagan explained that it was an accepted princip’e under the act not to pay the benefit to persons for whom reasonable employment opportunities were available, and who did not elect to take advantage of them. But from time to time cases arose where workers were not prepared to take positions offered, particularly on the grounds of distance from their place of residence. This appnlied more particularly in winter, when difficulty was experienced in placing seasonal workers.

A safeguard against undue hardship arising out of the decisions of departmental officers had been urged by members of both Houses of Parliament when the Employment Bill wa,s debated in November, 1945. and an assurance was given that this imrortant principle would not be overlooked.

The arrangements now concluded provided an opportunity in such cases for applicants for the unemployed benefit having their reasons for not accepting employment fully investigated by special committees of review if payment of the benefit was terminated. The establishment of these committees would, the Minister said, co-or-dinate the work of the Social Security and National Employment Department in dealing with cases of voluntary unemployment. The committees would consist of the Social Security Registrar and the District Employment officer in each committee district, and an independent chairman fo r each of . the four committees, those being Messrs H. Campbell (Auckland) J. J Scott f Wanganui). F. Cornwell (Wellington). and W. Grantham (Invercargill) who had b<°°n chosen for. their knowledge of industrial conditions. Tb°v would act as liaison officers with the Minister of Emnlovment. sort would receive three guineas daily while engaged on official duties, and a lso a small honorarium.