PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 270, 14 October 1932, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. URGENCY FOR IMPREST BILL, Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. The House of Representatives met at 10.80 a.m. Mr J. McCombs' gave notice of his intention to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill No. 2. The Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message and accorded urgency. The opportunity was taken to discuss various aspects of the unemplbyment problem. Mr D. G. Sullivan alleged that the Government was betraying its trust so far as the B 2 men were concerned. He said that both the hospital boards and the Unemplovment Board had repudiated respiosibility for .providing for these men, and it was a scandal that the Government had been unable to bring the issue to finality. He asked what right had the Unemployment Board to throw on the hospital boards the responsibility for B 2 men when it must know the hospital boards had the right to repudiate such responsibility. These men were able to perform light work, and Mr Sullivan insisted that the Unemployment Board should do something to save them from starvation. Mr A. Harris protested against the action of the Government in driving married men into the country for relief work. He referred to the case of the Takapuna Borough Council which was prepared to continue to employ 173 married men on reproductive work, and asked why was the board insistr ing on breaking up these men’s homes and driving them into the country. He was satisfied that, with a little business acumen, many works could be carried out in various towns, and he was referring to reproductive works of national importance which would keep the men somewhere near their homes. He believed the reverse policy was wrong and he would not stand for it. Replying to the Labour speakers, Mr S'. G. Smith said that no section of the community, except a very small irresponsible section, would urge that relief work should be abolished and the men placed on the dole. Continuing, Mr Smith said that from a, canvass that had been made in the cities it had been established that only 10 per cent, of the number of registered unemployed boys and youths could be absorbed in trade and commerce in the cities. The only other avenue was the land, and in all parts of New Zealand hundreds of boys had gone out into the country. He himself had seen a comment expressing the satisfaction of both the farmers and the boys with this scheme. There were admittedly complaints regarding the conditions, but from his experience from one end of New Zealand to the other he could say that 98 per cent, of the farmers were playing the game by the boys. The discussion was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 1 p.m.