THE UNEMPLOYED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 11 April 1933, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED

THOSE PHYSICALLY UNFIT understanding regarding RESPONSIBILITY. hospital authorities and BOARD. WELLINGTON, April 10. The Hospital Boards ’ Association and the Unemployment Board have come to an understanding regarding their respective responsibilities toward the granting of assistance to unemployed men who are more or less physically unfit. Agreement was reached at a conference presided over by the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) and attended by the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young). It was agreed that the following classification of unemployed men and definition of responsibility for assistance should be adopted:— (1) Hospital board doctors examining at the instance of the Unemployment Board’s local officer any unemployed man who claims to be unfit for ordinary relief work should endeavour to classify each examinee definitely under one of the following classes: Class A, men fit for any work in any place; class B, men fit for light work only; class C, men unfit for work of any kind. It is to be borne in mind in examining men for classification purposes that the great bulk of the work available is manual labour. (2) Men in classes A and B will be recognised as the responsibility of the Unemployment Board. Men in class (J will be recognised as the responsibility of Hospital boards. (3) Where medical classification is doubtful and for this or any other reason responsibility is disputed, a prompt endeavour should be made to settle the question, hospital boards being recommended to afford any necessary relief in the meantime. It Is recommended that in the larger cities a standing committee be set up to go promptly into cases in dispute and decide the classification.