ABOLITION URGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1947, Page 3

ABOLITION URGED

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF “LITTLE VALUE” VIEWS OF MANUFACTURERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. The “increasing burden” of Government returns required from manufacturers led to a protest at the Manufacturers’ Federation annual conference, and the passing of a .resolution which included a suggestion that the National Employment Service should be abolished. Mr. H. L. Longbottom (Otago), submitting a remit that the submission of half-yearly returns to the National Employment Service should be examined by the conference, said ; that his members had come to the conclusion that the returns were of little value.

Mr. D. S. Dott (Canterbury) said that employers desiring labour had ample facilities in the newspapers, and that the National Employment Service could not create vacancies which did not exist. “The National Employment Service has outlived its usefulness,” said Mr. E. R. Cuzens (Timaru), “and we should ask for its reduction and amalgamation with the Labour ’ Department.” Mr. J. S. Satterthwaite (Canterbury) said the service did nothing to bring labour into the market, but its cost in staff, equipment, and office space must be £270,000 a year. The president (Mr. W. J. Truscott) said he would like the federation to offer co-operation with the Labour Department to the extent that, after consultation they would provide returns giving information which would benefit members. The federation should at the same time strongly ’ urge the ab.olition of the National Employment Service, which appeared to be a wasteful duplication which had outlived its usefulness as a war measure. The Labour Department had done a reasonably good iob, and if the federation could cooperate with that department it could get further. .