UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT.

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT POLICY. (JLSv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 17. In the House of Representatives today. in reply to Mr P. Eraser, Sir Joseph Ward" said a special committee was at present investigating the whole subject of unemployment. The Government proposed to await the committee's recommendations before bringing down legislative proposals. Mr Fraser said legislation on the subject was being delayed too long. The House had lately seen the inglorious spectacle of an aimless debate being continued while people- were waiting for relief. ■Several other members attacked the Government for its alleged failure to cope with the situation.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Government had not- been inactive. The Christchurch City Council had. power to raise loans to undertake relief work, and he could not understand why it would not a-cce-pt the terms of the Government’s offer of a £25.000 subsidy. The responsibility for coping with the problem did not rest with the Government alone. The Government was doing a great deal, and was prepared to do a great deal more. It. was not fair to- ask the Government- for a £ for £ subsidy, because it could not afford to grant such a request. He hoped after the financial statement had been presented to the House to be able to put more men on railway works.

Mr H. M. Rushbrook appealed for relief for men in the country districts. Tt appeared men were leaving tlie country for the towns, where there was a prospect of their obtaining employment at relief works. That did not. improve the position at all.

The Prime Minister, in reply to Mr C. Carr, said he was prepared to authorise subsidies to all boroughs that raised unemployment loans or used revenue moneys for capital works as certified bv tlie Public Works Department. but the funds available for "this purpose could not he authorised as grants.