EMPLOYMENT BOARD

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 12

EMPLOYMENT BOARD

Commissioner Appointed MR. MALCOLM FRASER The appointnient of Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, as Commissioner of Unemployment, was announced at the conclusion of the first meeting of the Unemployment Board yesterday. Mr. Fraser will in the meantime be relieved of his other official duties and he will devote his whole time as chief executive officer of the board. In extending a welcome to the newlyanuointed members of the board, the Minister of Labour, who is chairman,

said the board had full power for the appointment of any officers it wished, but he had conferred with the Public Servi c e Commissioner upon the point, and although the names of several men were mentioned, it had eventually been [agreed that Mr. i Fraser was most 'suited to fill the position. He had accordingly been ask-

ed to attend the first meeting, and it was for the board to decide whether it would confirm his appointment. The board later agreed to Mr. Fraser s appointment, and it was decided that he should be known as Commissioner of Unemployment. It is understood that Mr. Fraser will not draw any extra salary for acting as commissioner, merely drawing his present wage and being transferred temporarily from the statistician’s office to act with the board. _ He was appointed Government Statistician in 1911. Born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1873, he was a clerk in the -Land and Income Tax Department from 1893 to 1908, and he was accountant to the Public Service Superannuation Board from 1908 until he received the office of Government Statistician. A statement issued after the board rose last evening pointed out that the first day’s work had been devoted mainly to preliminary questions. It is understood that considerable time was spent upon the question of finance and the funds which will be placed at the disposal of the board. _ The question of unemployment in various directions was also discussed, although naturally no decisions were reached. It is likely that the board will meet almost continuously for some time.