WORK IN TOWNS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1932, Page 8

WORK IN TOWNS

RELIEF OF THE UNEMPLOYED

DUTIES OF HOSPITAL BOARDS,

WELLINGTON, November 19

The Unemployment'Board is unable to issue instructions to local unemployment committees to secure the immediate employment of all men classed as lit for light town work, according to a statement by the Acting-Minister of Employment, Hon A. Hamilton, in reply to a question by Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) in the House yesterday.'

In asking that these instructions should be issued-, Mr- Richards said many men had been examined by the Labour Department and passed for light town work. They were then told to go tb the hospital hoards,, but these boards in turn refused help, with 'the result that the men went back to the 'Labour Department. Men . were destitute and short of food, and although' the. position had been placed before the Minister before, the position was the same to-day as it had always been. -

The Minister replied that the Unemployment Board was not in a position to'issue the instructions desired. The local committees were not employing authorities. If work could not be found for the class of man mentioned, they were rightly a charge on the hospital boards, which with other local bodies, has a responsibility in tins question.