WORK FOR IDLE HANDS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 12

WORK FOR IDLE HANDS

“PROMISE FULLY REDEEMED” EMPLOYMENT FOUND FOR 5664 MEN MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION SOUGHT Five weeks ago yesterday the Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) assured the House of Representatives that the Government was in a position to promise that by the end of October all the genuinely unemployed in the Dominion would be offered employment, provided tliat they registered at Government labour bureaux and were willing and able to accept work offered to them. Yesterday afternoon the Acting-Leader of the House (Hon. G. W. Forbes) presented a full statement regarding the position, prefacing it with the. observation that members and the country generally would be gratified to know that the Prime Minister’s promise had been fully redeemed. The Alinister said that the Government regarded the promise to deal with the unemployment situation as one _of the most important of its pre-election undertakings. Although it could be stated definitely that the position had now been relieved, the matter could not be allowed to rest at that. . The further development of the plans of the Cabinet Committee set up to deal with the relief of unemployment involved operations under the terms of the land development clauses of the Land Laws Amendment Bill, a vigorous public works programme, and an active policy of land settlement, which would assist in providing a more permanent solution of the economic evil of unemployment. Activities Reviewed. Reviewing the work of the Cabinet Committee, Air. Forbes stated that plans for the absorption, of the unemployed had been prepared some time before the Prime Alinister was able to state that they could be - carried out in full. The Cabinet Committee which was set up to secure complete co-ordination between the various Alinisters and Departments who had been responsible for the preparation of these schemes comprised the Hon. G. W. Forbes (Alinister of Lands and Agriculture), Hon. E. A. Ransom (Alinister of Public Works), Hon. W. A. Veitch (Alinister of Labour), and the Hon. W. B. Taverner (Alinister of Railways and Commissioner of State Forests). Under the direction of this committee an efficient organisation had been at work, and the rapidity with which results had been achieved was the best evidence of this fact. Government labour bureaux were inundated with applications for employment after the announcement by the Prime Alinister, and during October there were 10.691 new registrations throughout the Dominion. Applications pending at bureaux rose rapidly from 2466 on September 30 to 6407 on October 16, but since then there had been a similarly rapid reduction in unplaced applicants, ’due to the large number of men who had been provided with Government employment, lapsed applications, and men placed with local bodies and private employers. Although the applications pending through the Dominion now totalled 2299, only 1000 of these were prepared to accept work anywhere it was available. Works Provided. The Cabinet Committee had met practically every day, and during the first week put into force a schedule of works which provided for employment of 1820 men on construction of railways, roads, and main highways, land drainage, improvements to open lines of railway, planting, and thinning of State forests, and in the several workshops of the Railway Department throughout the Dominion, and the retention of 775 seasonal workers by the Forestry Department. During the second week another schedule of similar works providing for the employment of a further 1776 men was set in motion, and at subsequent meetings three other schedules of similar works which, with the first and second schedules, made provision for employment of a total of 5330 new men, and retention of 775 men by Forestry Department were prepared. Further Authorisations. On those five schedules provision was made for employment of every man registered at Government bureaux as at October 26, and who was willing to accept Government work anywhere it was available, but tbe registrations had increased, and another schedule of work had been 'authorised, continued the Alinister. The works which were bein" undertaken were necessary development works which would have to be undertaken in the near future, and were now being carried out earlier than would have been the case but for the necessity of providing employment for a large number of men. The Government had only a very limited amount of work available near the main centres of population, and men for various reasons could not see their way to leave their homes in the towns for work in the country, but the committee. in arranging the several schedules of work only sanctioned useful and necessary works, which would entail the least amount of travelling, and, consequently, expense to the men. For that reason the works were fairly evenly distributed throughout the Dominion. Effort on Behalf of Tradesmen. A special effort had been made in regard to tradesmen. A large . umber, approximately 300, had been engaged by the Railway Department, which was in a position to absorb more if certain classes of tradesmen had been available, and this had had the effect of curtailing to some extent the number of unskilled men taken on by that Department, as a balanced staff of tradesmen and unskilled workers was assential in a railway workshop. In adition, the preparation of plans and specifications and invitation of tenders for numerous new departmental buildings distributed throughout the Dominion, involving an expenditure of approximately £150.000, had been expedited in order that further work might be available in the near future for men connected with the various building trades. Standard Wages Paid. “Tradesmen w’ho are being employed at their trades are being paid the departmental rates of wages for those trades,” stated the Alinister. “Unskilled workers who are employed on day work are being paid the standard wages of 14s. per day, and when placed on co-operative contract, the contract rates which are being paid are such as would enable a man of fair average ability, working industriously, to earn 14s. per day. Inexperienced men are allowed up to 14 days on day wages before being given co-operative contracts. Instructions have also been issued that the living accommodation of men is to be made as comfortable as the localities in which they are working will admit." Position to Date. The Alinister said the following'table would show the position at a glance and give a clear indication of what had been accomplished by the Government:—Registrations pending on September 30. 2466: new registrations during October, 10,691 : employees of Forestry Department who hud finished seasonal work, 775; total, 13.932. Provided with employment on Government works, 4360; with local bodies and others, 529; lapsed applications, 4228; unemployable, 562; refused work offered, 1179; balance on registers on October 31, 2299; total, 13,157. Retained by Forestry Department, 77. Qf ths 2290 appXwaUoaa MW ponding

only 1000 W’ere prepared to accept work anywhere. A large proportion of these were being placed that day and on Saturday, and the remainder would all be offered work early next week. It would be seen from the above that 4889 men were , placed in employment through bureaux during the month; and in addition 775 men were retained by the Forestry Department, making a grand total of 5664. A total of 262 new men who were given orders to proceed to Government employment had failed to report on tbe works, and 225' others left after working only a few days. Of the 4360 men sent to Government works, 2891 were placed on public works, 681 with the Forestry Department, 604 with the Railway Department, 140 with the Lands Department, and 44 with the Agricultural Department. The number of men already placed on Government works would have been considerably higher if so many men had not refused work offered and bad weather had not delayed departure of men to works, said the Alinister. Many Men Refused Work. Inconvenience and additional expense had been caused to Departments through men not accepting work when offered to them. This applied especially to men required for works in remote localities, and in many instances transport arrangements had to be cancelled and fresh engagements made at considerable inconvenience to Departments and transport firms. An' analysis had been made of men who did not accept Government work offered, and was as follows: — Family responsibilities 529 Work too far away 231 Contract work not acceptable .... 23 Rate of wages too low 5a Business' reasons or other employment 44 Physical unfitness 84 No reply to written offers of employment 88 Reasons not given 125 Total 1179 Duty of Private Employers. “While the State and local public bodies can do a great deal in improving the situation, it is reasonable to suggest that private employers also have a responsibility,” added the Minister. “If fewer men are thrown on the labour market every season, and the average level of employment is more steadily maintained, the effect on the community is reassuring and confidence in the economic position of the Dominion is maintained. Therefore, it is of the highest importance that while public activities are being organised to secure a steadier level of employment throughout the year, private enterprise should also adopt the same objective.” Effect on Country Workers. Statements had appeared in the public Press from time to time that men were leaving farm work to obtain employment on relief works. This aspect of the problem had received serious consideration py the Cabinet Committee, and there was no evidence that it was occurring to any appreciable extent. Aloreover, offers of employment on Government relief works had not been made to men in country districts until ample time had elapsed for them to obtain private employment in those districts if it had been available. Reform members: It is occurring. Alcn are leaving the farms! Value for Aloney Expended. Dealing with the question of whether the Committee received a reasonable return for the money expended on relief works, the Alinister stated that, as the greater portion of the work was undertaken on the co-operative principle, and the men were paid by results, and their work was properly supervised, whether on day work or co-operative contract, the House and country might be satisfied that value was being received for the outlay. In making this statement, he pointed out on behalf of the Government that the rates paid on co-operative contracts on relief works were similar to those ruling on standard works, and officers m charge of relief works had been instructed that no attempt was to be made to cut down prices, and consequently reduce the earnings of the men. They were to render assistance and give advice to inexperienced men on co-opcrative contracts where it was acceptable in order that they may ne able to carry out their work in an efficient manner with beneficial results to themselves and the country. POSITION IN WELLINGTON A detailed statement regarding the unemployment situation in Wellington was presented to tbe House of Representa fives yesterday by the Alinister of Lands (Hon. G. AV. Forbes). This showed that the total number of men prepared to accept work, but unplaced at the end of October, was only 155. Applications pending on September 30 were 299, but there were new registrations to the number of 1393 during October. Tbe number placed in employment on Government works was 539. A total of 523 applications had lapsed, 126 men were unemployable, and 146 men on the unemployed register refused work when it was offered. . The balance of men on the register at tlie end of October was 400; but of that number only 155 were prepared to accept work anywhere. The Government Jias further schemes in view, so that all might be absorbed.