THE UNEMPLOYED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 150, 29 June 1928, Page 11

THE UNEMPLOYED

QUESTIONS IN: THE HOUSE As was to.be expected,, the subject of unemployment was raised at the parliest opportunity from the Labour benches when tho House of Representatives sat for the first time after the opening of Parliament yesterday afternoon. . ... - : ' . : . Mr. B. M'Keen (Wellington South) is asking for a. return-showing the number, of unemployed'engaged by the various Government Departments on relief works.'.. . ' .;•■.'■'. : Mr. P. Fra'scr (Wellington Central) intends to ask the Prime Minister who-' thor the.Government will reconsider its opposition to "any-., increase, in the1 "totally inadequate" rates of wages paid on relief works in - the. Public. Works Department, and whether the Government will consider bringing the wages of the men up to-the existing award rates of pay. It is also .'Mr..-Eraser's intention to ask the Prime-1 Minister if he. and ths Minister of Public Works' will ' take steps to ensure that men employed on relief works "receive as a minimum'at least 9s and 12s a day. Mr. Eraser said cases had come under, his notice in1!1, which .men were, not even receiving those amounts. • ' ''."'.. He also .gave notice of a' question as to' whether/the Government propones to introduce legislation this session, recognising the right to'work for.unemployed employables; and whether a sub-commit-, tee of the House would be set up for the purpose of conducting*.an. inquiry, into the conditions ..of .work and. the rates of pay on Government, relief.jworks throughout the Dominion. :'_ ' . • ■