WORKS PROGRAMME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 2

WORKS PROGRAMME

ABSORPTION OF WORKLESS. INCREASE IN WAGES. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Sept. 23. Because of the acuteness of the problem of unemployment the Government has had- a committee working for some time on the planning of public works, both from a long range point of view and also from the viewpoint of urgency, said Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Finance) at the jubilee dinnor of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce to-night.

“The result is that the Government has a programme of work in addition to those works already mentioned in the Budget and which would be carried out in any case,” he said. “This programme has been drawn up with special regard to: “(1) The occupations of those unemployed. “(2) The severity of unemployment in particular districts. “(3) The amount of employment which a given amount of loan expenditure will provide.” Mr Coates pointed out that the tendency had been for the unemployed to congregate in the centres, and if there had been an incentive in that direction steps had been taken to make the incentive operate in the opposite way, and the object would be to get men on to employment which was remunerative in typo and nature.

The new works would include roads, drainage, irrigation, reclamation, salvage of deteriorated lands and various other avenues of em-

ployment, including building. “This is the immediate programme, and has been approved by Cabinet and will be put in hand at once,” lie said. “The long-range programme _ will bo so drawn up that it will fit in as far as possible with the economic conditions of the country, and the changes in public works undertaken will be by gradual transition so as not unduly to upset the position in the labour market. Cabinet has also approved of an increase in the standard rate of pay on public works to 12s a day for married men- in camps and 9s for single men. The Minister stated that experience had shown that it was difficult to induce men on sustenance to leave their homes for remunerative work, and the proposed increase in wages was to be an additional incentive to them to work in the country. He realised that when that happened the farmer would feel that he was being deprived of the means of obtaining labour as he had done in the past, but it was intended to provide for him assistance in some form or another whereby he would be able to retain his labour. “During the depression we have done our level best to assist the farmer, and everybody has stood up to it like men and women. The wages offering have not been attractive, but the people have faced the position squarely. “It is the expectation of the Government that these measures will lead to a substantial improvement in the unemployment situation, and about eight thousand men will be absorbed immediately,” said Mr Coates. He added that the Government had other far-reaching policy measures being drafted. A comprehensive housing scheme was well under way and would be brought down this session. It would require local authorities to make a housing survey to be used as a basis of a detailed programme. In addition there was a universal superannuation and health insurance scheme on a contributory basis which was under consideration. The report of the committee working on this matter would be published shortly.