FINDING WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 6

FINDING WORK

PLACEMENT SCHEME

A DOMINION SURVEY

|[ -RESULTS TO DATE

1} "i-ain very gratified indeed with the Kresults so early achieved by the flscheme' and look upon it as a substantial contribution towards tine perHmanent solution of the unemployment Hproblem,." said the Minister of Labour >i (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) when makt!ing- a statement regarding the placeliment scheme operated by 'the Labour H "A Dominion-wide survey of the li operation of the placement scheme rc-| !>cently inaugurated by the employment | of my Department has just ijbeen concluded," said the Minister. ;"The outstanding observation is that lithe scheme has been" warmly welcomed Ijby the Press, the public, and the unGemployed as a direct and effective Splan promising to yield the maximum Hadvantage to those unfortunate enough f|to-be without normal employment. ij "Experience has demonstrated that ila considerable time invariably elapses tibefore the public as a whole becomes '[conversant, with- the objects and pfo- '! visions of any scheme designed to proIjmote- employment;. The placement1 ■'scheme,.however, ■ was launched only iiiiine weeks ago, but despite the fact I that initial unavoidable delay occurred tin selecting suitable personnel, securI ing accommodation, and printing the {'various forms and index cards, 1479 llmen have already, been placed in unsubsidised private' employment, practically all having been from the register of relief workers. This result provides: a complete and effective answer to i that small minority which claims that the relief registers contain mainly the names of those who are unfit, inefficient,, or unwilling to work. INCREASING CONFIDENCE. "In each, of the nineteen placement centres, there is definite evidence that employers are, to an increasing extent, recognising the scheme as a dependable, and direct service which has already, proved its usefulness and convenience when gauged from the strictly business viewpoint. The earlier idea that an employer would be inconvenienced, by 'officialdom' or that a sympathetic plea would hide the efficiency' of the candidate, has already been dispelled; in place of this has arisen recognition and, appreciation of the;fact that among those enrolled at placement centres are men able to comipete.on equal terms with those whose "•service has been continuous throughout the term of the economic depression. . ■ . ■ • .. f ."One outstanding instance of the efficient service provided is worthy of mention. At' 3.10 p.m. a call for two seamen to leave New Zealand at 6 p.m. on the same day was received by the •Placement Office; at 3.35 p.m. five seaimeirwere actually en route for selection, and three (instead of two) sailed at the scheduled time. • .4-:-.BESTO.XS,-SPiEAK.-.- '.. "Up to' the 4th instant bo fewer than 1479 men had been given what one man described as 'the key to a new world—ithe'-world of work and independence of- public assistance.' This figure includes some men beyond sixty years of age,-and men with tip to four years' relief service, but does: not include even one inaii placed in the service of any State Department or local body. These T&IQ ;inen wei'e restored to nor- ' mal priype: "gaM'fjul: employment. In theory [oHe.manVplaced in regular em-ploymejpt-creates^ an opening for. another; 2'"'ffiw^?'sputi"d in actual practice, it i would that the value of the 3 placement scheme has been very modestly measured. . "Hereunder are quoted the progressive weekly, placement totals since the commencement of the scheme. Thes? ( figures are doubly interesting inasmuch as they represent an industrial 1 barometer, recording the increasing ( buoyancy-in.trade conditions. ; Week' "■'•,'. Casual or . . . ended, temporary. Permanent. Total. • WBO/S7WB6, •-,■...»■: «4 125 2TO I 6/6/1936 ' 2a» 2->' *'» , 13/6/1936 '...... 3D7 3JT VO4 ■ 20/8/1936 ...... 4u2 490 042 27/6/1936 /54:-l f>"?> l.lfio . 4/T/1936 .1...... 003 . SIC 1,470 ■ '• ■■'■- Total 5.0(!3 EXPANSION OF FIELD. "Placement centres have been established at Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Gisbprrie, Napier, New Plymouth, Wangariui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Petone,' Wellington, • Nelson,'.Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru," Oamaru, .Dunedin, and Inver-cargill—-19 centres-in all. The official view of'the; possibilities of the scheme may beijudged by my decision to establish a placement centre at Hastings"and to afford- to tradesmen -and farm operatives in country districts an opportunity of enrolling- under the scheme which hitherto has been restricted to those residing within convenient distance of the centre's "home area.''" Arrangements will also be made for a spedally-<iualifled officer to visit all camps (other than those on standard public works), record the industrial qualifications of all tradesmen lqcated therein, and subsequently endeavour to secure for them private employment of a nature calling; for the exercise of that particular skill for which they laboured for years to attain.

"Each placement centre is supplied „ with a weekly statement showing the j, classes of labour 'available in all ofher 0 centres. This information is circu- - u lated each Tuesday, and represents e current enrolments as at the preceding Saturday; it is, therefore, as up to date j as possible. Each placement officer is thus in a particularly favourable pbsi- j. tion to draw upon the Dominion' re- ? sources of any class of labour, not , available, at his own centre.- This , facility has been availed of to a some- ' what surprising extent, and in itself should demonstrate the benefit which is available td employers. j DEARTH OF CERTAIN TRADES- t MEN. " . . ,] "Reference to the Dominion enrol- 1 ments reveals the dearth of ceiHain " classes of skilled labour—efficient up- 1 holsterers are.unobtainable, sheet metal, i 'workers, 'A' grade' motor mechanics, i surveyors and architectural and engi-^ i neering draughtsmen are surprisingly • few. * , , : "Nothing likely to enhance the value of the service offered is lacking. In all : cases testimonials submitted by applicants are verified by reference to the signatories. The result has proved«the wisdom of such a course. On the other hand, pleasing results have also been obtained—in several cases employers approached for this purpose have | evinced genuine surprise that an applicant should be unemployed and have spontaneously intimated their readiness to immediately re-engage him. - K "An astonishing feature is that only three of the 1479'men placed have been reapplied for further employment by ; reason of having been discharged.This position appears remarkable, bid is vouched for as correct. It certainly is a striking tribute to the men, each of v>hom, when selected for a vacant position, is asked to show his appreciation of the scheme by 'playing the game' rendering a fair return of service. SCHEME OPEN TO ALL.I "Though in a few centres the placement enrolments actually exceed the relief registrations, it does not appear to be universally realised thnl the

scheme is open to all males—men, youths, and. boys. Applicants are not called upon to 'fill in forms,' to disclose casual earnings or relief payments, or to reveal their domestic circumstances; further, there is no check between the placement and relief records —actually there is no basis which could provide effective compariI son The employment bureaux and the I placement offices are separate and distinct: a man may enrol for placement even though he is not eligible for or desires relief. "As was expected, first-hand examination of the operations of the 19 centres revealed the necessity for minor adjustments, and these were effected on the spot. I am advised that the system is now adequate to promptly cope with any reasonable demand, and' that the enthusiasm and zeal of .the various placement staffs is most pronounced. APPRECIATION EXPRESSED. "The employment division has received material assistance in its efforts Ito ..effect rehabilitation of the unemployed. Publicity is essential for the success of any such venture, and in this respect the Press of the Dojninion has been most generous and helpful, while . the national broadcasting service, owners of certain B class radio stations, cinema managers, and many other organisations and individuals have afforded valuable and valued co- ■ operation. . • , 1 "To all these I tender the tlfanks of 1 the Government, for it is largely due ■to their support that. the placement " scheme has magnificently established 1 itself as a commercial and [industrial I facility offering prompt, free, and effifc cient service to employers an,d substan--1 tial benefit to the unemployed, and " promises to become the national clearj ing house for labour of all'types."