NO. 5 RELIEF SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 12

NO. 5 RELIEF SCHEME

CABINET'S DECISION

TEMPORARY CONTINUANCE

UNTIL NEW MONEY VOTED

Cabinet has reversed its decision to suspend operations under the No. 5 unemployment relief scheme at the end of this week. ■ . The Prime Minister., (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) announced this afternoon that the Government had giv.en further consideration to the unemployment problem, and to the numerous representations which had been made for the continuance of scheme No. 5.

The Prime Minister stated that although the facts of his previous .statement and the reasons which led up to the announcement of the suspension of No. 5 scheme had in no way been altered, the Government had, under the special circumstances, and in view' of the wholehearted demand from all parts of the Dominion, decided upon the temporary continuance of the scheme.

One of the first duties of Parliament would be to consider the question of funds for the Unemployment Board, and the Government intended to bring down legislation at the earliest opportunity in the forthcoming session with that end in view. In the meantime, however, as the result of the earnest representations already referred to, and with a. view to relieving the unfortunate position in which many people were placed through lack of employment, the Government had decided upon the continuance of the scheme until such time as Parliament could deal with the problem of additional finance, which, based on the large numbers of unemployed now to be dealt with^ was essential.

■ The Government realised, said the Prime Minister, that the responsibility for the stability and increase of the unemployment funds would rest upon Parliament, and as the session would commence within a Veek, he had every hope that reasonable provision would be made so that relief could be continued.