SCHEME FOR EMPLOYMENT

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 28 May 1932, Page 5

SCHEME FOR EMPLOYMENT

BUILDING TRADE SUBSIDY BOARD GIVES APPROVAL ALLOCATION FROM FUND. PROPORTION TO REGISTRATIONS. A scheme to assist the building industry in New Zealand by subsidy for the construction and renovation of dwellings, public buildings, dairy factories, freezing works, and factories for new, non-competitive industries, also for the maintenance of business premises, has been approved by the Unemployment Board, reports the “Dominion.” The following statement setting out the details of the scheme has been released for publication by the Minister of Employment, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates:

“The principle of this scheme is to subsidise industry from the Unemployment Fund proportionately to the additional number of men engaged from the unemployment register. This is on the ground that it is bettJ? in the ultimate to subsidise an employer to keep a worker in industry than it is to pay a relief wage to the worker after his dismissal from industry.

“There is plenty of evidence at the present time that a large number of building contracts are held in abeyance for various reasons;'sometimes it is a matter of finance, but in many cases it is psychological.

INDUSTRY SUFFERED GREATLY. “It is probable that the building industry has suffered more than any other. The building industry in normal times, with the exception of the primary industry, employed more men than any other industry. To what extent this industry is .suffering on account of the general depression may be gauged from the following figures: “In 1930, which was a normal year for building activities,, the number of .persons engaged in the industry was 11,312. On December 31, 1931, of the total registered unemployed 553 d were building tradesmen. If to this number is added allowance for the builders’ labourers who would be idle because the tradesmen were idle, the number would be over 7000. It is more than probable that the position has grown worse during the year. Officials in the industry allege that 90 per cent, of the workers normally engaged in this industry are at present not so engaged. “If building can be stimulated, not only the labour actually engaged on the building is affected, but employment is found for approximately the same number in indirect ways, ft is' not proposed to subsidise every building. The classes of buildings proposed to come within the scope of this scheme are• SIX CLASSES OF BUILDINGS. “Class I.—Painting, renovating, repairing, modernising, or’ making alterations or additions to private dwellings where the occupier is the owner thereof or. where the occupier is purchasing the dwelling. Class 2.—Painting, renovating or maintenance repairs of dwellings other than those in Class 1. , ... Class 3.—The building of dwellings for the bona-fide owner-occupier Class 4. —Painting or maintenance repairs of business premises or commercial buildings. Class s.—Building, rebuilding, painting or renovating public or semi J public buildings. Class 6.—‘Building, making alterations or additions to, and the painting, renovating or repairing of dairy factories, freezing works, storehouses for primary produce, or any new factories which would not be directly in competition with existing factories m New Zealand.

governing conditions. The following conditions governing the payment of the subsidy will apply: 1. The building must be in one of the classes listed, and except in the case of those in Class 1. must first have been approved by the Minister of Employment, acting on the recommendation of the Unemployment Board. , 2 The amount of subsidy paid will be J 33 1-3 per cent, of the wages received, provided that it shall not exceed 22s 6d for any person in any one week. . • , 3 Construction work must commence between the date ofJmy ,1, 1932 and December 31, 1932. This will not prevent the subsidy being paid after the latter date on labour which was engaged and actually started between the dates mentioned. Except that in the case of workers engaged under this scheme on work which will last over 12 months, in which case, commencing on July 1, 1933, the maximum subsidy will be reduced to 12s uu per week. . . ... 4 The labour on which a subsidy is to be claimed must Tie engaged through the nearest Labour Bureau. This does not mean that any person sent by the labour officer must be engaged. On receipt of a request for carpenters painters or other workers, the officer m charge will advise a number of the tradesmen required where the vacan- *\ cies are, and from those sent the employer will select. In the event of the employer knowing suitable registered men, he may nominate same to the officer in charge. 5. The normal working week on works engaging subsidised labour shall be the same as laid down in the curent agreement or award covering tms industry. The board does not feel called upon to stipulate a shortening of hours as a general practice but suggests that in view of the unlikelihood of the full complement of builders be inf re-engaged m industry, that just so Tong, and whenever the mm her of registered unemployed building tradesmen exceed 20 per cent of the total, the weekly hours be. reduced to 40, with the same rate oi pay per hour applying- , 0. New Zealand materials and products must be used wherevei 7° The board will reserve the right to suspend the subsidy 011 any work when it is satisfied that a regular employee has been dismissed for the purpose of taking on subsidised laboui. BUILDERS IN FAVOUR. “RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE.” It was stated at Wellington last evening by Mr. A. Seed, secretary of the executive committee of the Allied Building Industries associated with the New Zealand Institute of Architects, that the committee had given very close consideration to the Unemployment Board’s new scheme. Certain suggestions along the hnfs of the proposals now announced by the Minister had been submitted to

him bv the committee. The scheme no doubt'was the outcome of the Minister’s desire to restore confideire and create a wider field for employment. “The scheme has the heartiest endorsement of all the industries collected with the building trade/’ said Mr. Seed. “It- will be followed up by us with comprehensive information for the public as to the fall in bmldmg and renovation costs and 'particulars as to the best methods of carrying out such work under the present advantageous conditions. ’’