PLACEMENT SCHEME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 14

PLACEMENT SCHEME

A DOMINION SURVEY. MINISTER GRATIFIED. “I am very gratified indeed with the results so early achieved by the scheme and look upon it as a substantial contribution towards the permanent solution of the unemployment problem,” said the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) when releasing the following statement on the placement scheme. A Dominion-wide survey of the opertion of the placement scheme recently inaugurated by the employment division of my department has just been concluded. The outstanding observation is that the scheme has been warmly welcomed by the Press, the public, and the unemployed as a direct and effective plan promising io yield the maximum advantage to those unfortunate enough to be without normal employment. Experience lias demonstrated that a considerable time invariably elapses before the public as a whole become conversant with the objects and provisions of any scheme designed to promote employment. The placement scheme, however, was launched only nine weeks ago, but despite the fact that initial unavoidable delay occurred in selecting suitable personnel, securing accommodation and printing the various forms and index cards, 14i9 men have already been placed in unsubsidised private employment, practically all having been from the register of relief workers. This result provides a complete and effective answer to that small minority which claims that the relief registers contain mainly the names of those who are unfit, inefficient or unwilling to work. INCREASING CONFIDENCE. In each of the 19 placement centres there is definite evidence that employers are, to an increasing extent, recognising the scheme as a dependable and direct service which has already proved its usefulness and convenience when gauged from the strictly business viewpoint. The earlier idea that an employer would be inconvenienced by “officialdom,” or that a sympathetic plea would hide the efficiency of the candidate, lias already been dispelled; in place if this has arisen recognition and appreciation of the fact that among those enrolled at placement centres are men able to compete on equal terms with those whose service has been continuous throughout the term of the economic depression. One outstanding instance of the efficient service provided is worthy of mention : At 3.10 p.m. a, call for two seamen to leave New Zealand at G p.m. on the same day was received by the placement office; at 3.35 p.m. five seamen were actually en route for selection and three (instead of two) sailed at the scheduled time. RESULTS SPEAK. Up to the 4th instant no fewer than 1479 men had been given what one man described as “the key to a new world —the world of work and independence of public assistance.” This figure includes some men beyond 60 years of age. and men with up to four years’ relief service, but does not include even one man placed in the service of any State department or local body. These 1479 men were restored to" normal, private gainful employment. In theory one man placed in regular employment creates an opening for another; if this be sound in actual practice, it would appear that the value of the placement scheme has been very modestly measured. INDUSTRIAL BAROMETER. Hereunder are quoted the progressive weekly placement totals since the commencement of the scheme. These figures are doubly interesting in as much as they represent an industrial barometer, recording the increasing buoyancy in trade conditions. 1936.'

EXPANSION OF FIELD. Placement centres have been established at Whtingarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Petone, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dnnedin and Invercargill—l9 centres in all. The official view of the possibilities of the scheme may be judged by my. decision to establish a placement centre at Hastings and to afford to tradesmen and farm operatives in country districts an opportunity of enrolling under the scheme which hitherto has been restricted to those residing within convenient distance of the centre’s “home area.” Arrangements will also he made for a specially qualified officer to visit all camps (other than those on standard public works), record the industrial qualifications of all tradesmen located therein and subsequently endeavour to secure for them private employment of a nature calling for the exercise of that particular skill for which they laboured for years to attain. MOBILITY OF LABOUR.

Each placement centre is supplied with a weekly statement showing the classes of labour available in all other centres. This information is circulated each Tuesday and represents current enrolments as at the preceding Saturday ; it is, therefore, as up-to-date as possible. Each placement officer is thus in a particularly favourable position to draw upon the Dominion resources of any class of labour not available at his own centre. This facility has been availed of to a somewhat surprising extent and in itself should demonstrate the benefit which is available to employers. DEARTH OF CERTAIN TRADESMEN. Reference to the Dominion enrolments reveals the dearth of certain classes of skilled labour—efficient upholsterers are unobtainable, sheet metal workers, A grade motor mechanics, surveyors and architectural and engineering draughtsmen are surprisingly few. Nothing likely to enhance the value of the service offered is lacking. In ail cases testimonials submitted by applicants arc vertified by reference to the signatories. The result has proved tire wisdom of such a course. On the ether hand, pleasing results have also been obtained —in several cases employers approached for this purpose have evinced genuine surprise that an applicant should be unemployed and have spontaneously intimated their readiness to immediately re-en-gage him. ABSENCE OF COMPLAINTS.

An astonishing feature is that only three of the 1479 men placed have re-applied for further employment by reason of having been discharged. This position appears remarkable, but

is vouched for-as correct. It certainly is a striking tribute to the men, each of whom, when selected for a vacant position, is asked to show his appreciation of the scheme by “playing the game” and rendering a fair return of service. SCHEME OPEN TO ALL. Though in a few centres the placement enrolments actually exceed the relief registrations, it does not appear to be universally realised that the scheme is open to all males —men, youths and bo vs. Applicants are not called u))ou to “fill in forms,” to disclose casual earnings or relief payments, or to reveal their domestic circumstances; further, there is no check between the placement and relief records —actually there is no basis which could provide effective comparison. The employment bureau and the placement offices are separate and distinct; a man may enrol for placement- even though lie'is not eligible for or desires relief. IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED. As was expected, a first-hand examination of the operations of. the 19 centres revealed the necessity for minor adjustments, and these were effected on the spot. I am advised that the system is now adequate to promptly cope with any reasonable demano and that the enthusiasm and zeal ot the various placement staffs is most pronounced. APPRECIATION. The employment division has received material assistance in its efforts to effect rehabilitation of the unemployed. Publicity is essential for the success of auv such venture, a-nd _in this respect the Press of the Dominion has been most generous and helpful, while the national broadcasting service owners of certain B class radio stations, cinema managers and many other organisation's and individuals have afforded valuable and valued co°l To*ad 11 1liese I tender (be thanks of tlic Government, for it is largely due to their support that the placement scheme has magnificently established itself as a. commercial and industrial facility offering prompt, free and efficient service to employers and substantial benefit to the unemployed, and promises to become the national clearing liouso for labour of all types.

Week ended. Casual or Temporary. Permanent. Total, May 30 ... .. 154 .. 125 ... 279 .. 269 234 ... 493 .. 357 .. 347 ... 704 .. 452 .. 490 ... 942 .. 543 .. 623 ... 1166 July 4 ... .. 663 .. 816 ... 1479 Total £063