FINDING WORK

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 37, 12 August 1927, Page 10

FINDING WORK

INSURANCE SCHEME

LABOUR PROPOSALS

UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE

Details of an unemployment insurance scheme, which it was asked that the Government should adopt, were placed before the Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) to-day by a deputation representative of the Labour Movement. The Minister promised to submit the scheme to Cabinet for consideration.

The deputation consisted of Messrs. P. Eraser, M.P., H. G. B. Mason, M.P., F. N. Bartrani, M.P., F. Cornwall (president of the District Council of the Alliance of Labour), and W. Bromley and G. Whippy (members of the District Council of the alliance). Mr. Praser said that the Labour Movement, through the speaker, had year after year introduced an Unemployed Workers' Bill, which last year ! got a much more favourable reception than ever before, the Labour Bills Committee-having suggested that something on the lines of unemployment insurance should be brown down. His Bill had not proposed a contributory scheme but oust before Easter the Labour Movement had agreed to a contributory system on the lines of what was in force m Queensland. The workers were prepared to contribute one-third, and it was suggested that the employers should pay a third, and the State a third. The broad principles seemed to be generally acceptable in all British countries. A Eoyal Commission on Kational Insurance in Australia, and the Blanesburgh Commission in Britain had reported in favour of industrial insurance. While the workers in Britain thought a third contribution too much, those, in New Zealand were I agreeable to such a basis. Another proposal was that there should be some organisation to co-ordinate matters in connection with finding employment. •This unemployment council or board ' would be representative of the Government, the Government departments, ! employers, local bodies, and the workGOVERNMENT SHOULD ACT. Mr. Cornwell said that no one was blamed for unemployment, but the Government would be blamed if no attempt was made to meet the trouble which was becoming recurrent annually The conference referred to by Mr. Fraser was representative of 85,000 workers It was something new to get- the workers here to agree to a contributory scheme and it was felt that the Government I should take the matter up. A board would have to be set up to administer the scheme and make provision for meeting the poaition which arose in winter-time. The Labour organisations had not suggested what amount of contribution should be made, as that was a matter for actuarial investigation It was time there was some unemployment insurance scheme in New Zealand. Mr. Bromley said it should not be overlooked that the conference was cognisant of what the Labour ideal was ipJ V°r ™ °™l iE regard t0 unemployment. The scheme contained proposals for avoiding unemployment as far as ffunt' r d,,V 3S nOt "Sgeßted that a fund should be started merely as a palliative for something which could not be prevented. If the Government would carefully consider the proposals it was suggested as being probable that some scheme would be tvolved. The Itffl Pr°P°sed ™» «<>t held to be poifect, and the Government, no doubt could suggest amendments. THE MINISTER'S VIEWS. "I might say frankly that I have never been very much in favour of unemployment insurance in a country like 2 "*leh. j» o. ajy Partially developed," said the Minister in replying to the deputation. "My study has gone more on the lines of a scheme by which sickness and ill-health could beaded for. But, conditions have altered considerably, and we have had very | much more, unemployment in the last two years than we have had for a considerable time, and until our balance of trade improves I suppose that it will continue." Mr. Anderson said that he would consider the proposals and submit them to Cabinet so that they might be examined thoroughly to see what could be got out of them. " After all, in a country like this the mam thing is that everybody should have work, and there, should be some organisation by which that could be achieved," said the Minister. Personally, he thought that the trouble that had arisen in the last two years was due to people having got the i wind up." People had buttoned up thpir pockets and become a little bit frightened. Prices had gone down and everything would have to check down

to its level, by which time things should be all right. "I will have this matter investigated right away, and see what Cabinet says about it," he added. "My idea is that the thing i a possible, but the private employers, the local bodies and everybody will have to work in."