PRODUCTIVE WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 11

PRODUCTIVE WORK

AIM FOR THE FUTURE

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

Ml. FORBES'S VIEWS

The desire of the Government to see to it that in the future as many men as possible aro employed on productive works was expressed by the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes) in tho House of Representatives yesterday, when replying to points o£ criticism raised during tho debate on tho second reading of the Unemployment Amendment Bill. Mi-. Forbes said that the provisions of the Bill would make the position of women infinitely better than at present. Mr. Forbes agreed that there was a general desire in the House and the country to know how the money it was proposed to raise under the Bill was going to bo expended, but the main reason behind the Bill at present _ was tho urgency that existed for the raising of more money, in order that the prosent unemployment difficulty might be met. When the-main Act was passed it had been intended that the board should proceed i . n leisurely way until such time as sufficient money had been accumulated to enable a set policy to be put into operation. The board set out with that object in. view, but unfortunately the position got so bad that the board had to deal practically exclusively with the problem of finding immediate relief.. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central): "That was only to be expected under the economy campaign." Mr. Forbes: "Tho hon. gentleman knows as well as I do that unless there had been reduction? in salaries and wages in this country there •would, have been far greater .unemployment than there is at present." Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour; Baglan): "You are too pessimistic." Mr. Forbes: "If you call stating the facts pessimism, then I will plead guilty. I don't believe in trying to make out the position better than it is." Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform Thames): "Extravagant promises." ' Mr. Forbes: "Every country has been forced to do what New Zealand has done—reduce overhead costs." . Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South): "America?" Mr. Forbes: "No other country has been able to carry on at a full rate of expenditure." Mr. F. Langstouo (Labour, Waima-i-ino): "What about Great Britain?" Mr. Forbes: "The gentlemen sitting on the Labour benches might have some system of finance that I don't know about." Labour members: "Hear, hear." Mr. Forbes: "With a little bit of juggling they may be able to get over these things. I don't believe in living in a, fool's paradise, and telling people that they should all get £1 a day and only work four days a week. That sort of thing doesn't help; it only deludes people." POSITION OP WOMEN. Mr. Forbes admitted that the employment of women was a difficulty, but ho. thought tho provisions in the Bill would make tho position infinitely better than it was at present, i Mr. J. M'Combs (Labour, Lyttelton): "In what way?" Mr. Forbes: "By assisting the organisations that are coming to the Government in regard to tho employment of women. Becauso anybody contri-: butes under this Bill, there is no guarantee that he or she is going to get work. " Mr. Parry: "That is quite obvious." Contribution to the Unemployment Fund was a social service, said the Prime Minister. It was not altogether correct to say that nothing had been done for the women under the main Act. Married men received an extra day's work, and that in itself was an asistanco to the married women. Mr. M'Combs: "We still don't know what you propose to do for women." Mr. Forbes:'"lt is the intention of tho Government to set up a board to work out the details. The Houso is not the best place in which to work out the details." The Loader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E., Holland): What asuranee have we that any work will be found for women 1" ■ . The Prime Minister: "The hon. gentleman can have this assurance: that so'far as unemployed women are concerned they will be in an infinitely better position. The board will have funds in its possession to enable it to deal with any reasonable schemes for their employment. J. don't know'whether the hon. gentleman will contribute anything towards the general policy?" GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. Mr. Holland: "I will give the Prime Minister a policy if he* needs one." Mr. Forbes: "It is all very well for members to sit in their seats and say: 'What is tho remedy?' I have looked at the legislation in other countries, and I know they are in just as great difficulties .as we are." Mr. Holland: "Has the Government no policy?" Mr. Forbes: "The Government's policy is in the Bill. We are providing a fund for the board to administer. Wo hope that the board will be able to provide for more productive work than has been the case in the past. It is not possible for the Government or for the board to bring down schemes for the profitable employment of men for whom private entorprise could not find employment. The Government can only do its best to meet a very difficult position. At the same time I don't think all the men are being employed on unproductive works. The policy of the board has been to supplement the work that was being done by the local bodies. I think it is the duty of local bodies to go on with their work in the rdinary way and carry out the works they have in hand. I think that so far as the future is concerned, the policy of the Government will be to put as many men as possible into the country districts and provide work for them there. We must look to the country districts, as they provide the best avenues for productive works. Nobody wants to sec this money used for enterprises that will be of little benefit to the country in the end. I believe that the people will cheerfully pay their contributions if they believe that their money is being used to the best advantage." Referring to the State's contribution ro the Unemployment Fund, the Prime Minister said that tho Government's proposals would be fouud in the Budget. It would then be seen that the burden had been spread in the most equitable manner.