HELPING UNEMPLOYED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 9

HELPING UNEMPLOYED

Debate on New British Regulations LABOUR AND MEANS TEST (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 22, 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, July 21. An important three-day House of Commons debate on the draft Unemployment Assistance Regulations was opened to-day by the Minister of Labour, Mr. E. Brown, who moved for their approval. The draft regulations are the second to be issued under the 1934 Act, setting up a new Administration of Unemployment Assistance for those who have exhausted insurance benefit. 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 16. Mr. Brown claimed that the propos als formed a sound and just foundation for the solution of the great social problem involved. Defending the Household Means Test he said that if 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 House’s attention to provisions for a more flexible application of the rules regarding allowances for rent and for the assocla tion of local advisory committees with cases, of which there were many in which discretionary adjustments of payments were permitted. He taunted the Opposition with failure of an at tempt, which he alleged on their part, to stir up agitation in the country against the regulations. Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour Wakefield), in moving an amendment for the Labour Party condemning the regulations, declared the party's unalterable objection to the Household Means Test. The debate continues.