EMPLOYMENT RETURN

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1946, Page 2

EMPLOYMENT RETURN

, NO COMPULSORY DIRECTION OF LABOUR STATEMENT BY CONTROLLER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 18. Replying to the Associated Chambers of Commerce on points connected with the gathering of employment information, the Director of the National Employment Service (Mr. H. L. Bockett) sfates that the chambers suggested that it was not clear how shortages and surpluses could be corrected except by the compulsory direction of Labour. Mr. Bockett said that the compulsory direction’ of labour would definitely not be used. Voluntary means need be none the less, effective, although much of its effectiveness would depend upon co-opera-tion, Y

After detailing various ways in which voluntary action could help remedy employment ills in a practical way, Mr. Bockett stated: “Once the employment facts are known it will be possible for industry with or without Government assistance to do something about labour problems.”

Question of Cost. On the question of cost Mr. Bockett that apart from actual savings to industry the direct savings in the payment of the unemployment benefit through reduced frictional unemployment would greatly exceed the cost. To the chambers’ contention that seasonal labour displacement would rob statistics of their value, he said that employment information would also be obtained from seasonal industries.

It would thus be possible for the first time in New Zealand to' get an accurate picture of the impact of seasonal labour factors on industrial employment as a whole, enabling the country to turn to the best advantage the seasonal surge in employment. To the contention that the publication of the information would be too long delayed to be useful to industry, the director replied that the handling of returns had been so organised that it was expected that the first results would be published within a few days of all the returns being received.

Restricted Authority.

On the chambers’ statement that the regulations empowered departal officers to inspect and audit books, he stated that the regulations clearly restricted this authority to those cases where work was carried out with Government subsidies. ' In cases where public funds were thus used it was proper and necessary that the power shoul dexist to ensure that the money was expended for the purposes for which it was granted. Mr. Bockett stated that with the full explanation which he has sent to the Chambers of Commerce he was confident that members would readily agree that employment information was necessary and desirable and would bring New Zeala'nd into line with what was being done in Great Britain, the United States, and other countries. The Ne wZealand Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Federations had already expressed appreciation of the value of this information to industry. “All Government departments are’ to complete half-yearly returns of employment information,” added Mr. Bockett. He said that employment statistics would obviously lose much of their value if the Civil Service were excluded. Government departments would be required to fill in the same forms and supply exactly the same information as private employers.