VISIT OF VICTORIAN MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 13

VISIT OF VICTORIAN MINISTER

Will Study Handling of Unemployment Problem

On a visit to New Zealand to study portions of the Government’s legislation, particularly unemployment relief and the placement service, the Hon. E. J. Mackrell, Minister of Labour in the Victorian Government, arrived at Wellington in the Awatea yesterday.

In an interview with “The Dominion,” he said that several problems which confronted both Victoria and New Zealand were of a similar type, but so far as unemployment was concerned. Victoria felt that a great deal could be learned from the Dominion. There were at present about 22,000 unemployed in Victoria, Mr. Mackrell continued, compared with 32,000 in 1934. The Victorian Government handled their problem in three ways —sustenance with and without work, municipal subsidies and relief work. Those receiving sustenance without, work totalled about 2000. The Government subsidised various municipalities at a fixed rate, which enabled a man, bis wife and two children to receive 30/a week. Mr. Mackrell is accompanied by Mr. W. F. Frawley, officer in charge of the Victorian Sustenance Department.