8000 to he Absorbed by Employment Programme

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 225, 24 September 1935, Page 7

8000 to he Absorbed by Employment Programme

Government's Statesmanlike Measures PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Lust Night. ‘•'Because of the acuteness of the problem of unemployment the Government lias laid a committee working for sonic time on the planning of public works both from the long-range point, of view and also from the viewpoint of urgency,” said Mr. Coates, Minister of Finance, at tiie jubilee dinner 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. 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.” The Finance Minister 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 to be taken to make the incentive operate in the opposite way and the object would bo to get men on. to 'employment which was remunerative in type and nature.

The new works would include roads, drainage, irrigation, reclamation, salvage of deteriorated lands and various other avenues of employment, including building. “This is the immediate programme

and has been approved by Cabinet and will be put in hand, at once. The longrango programme will be so drawn up that it will lit in as far as possible with the economic conditions of the country ana the changes in the public works undertaken will be by gradual transition so us not unduly to upset the position of the labour market. “Cabinet has also approved of au increase in the standard rate of pay ou public works to 12s per day for married men in camps and Ds for single men.” The Minister stated that experience had shown that it was difficult to induce men in sustenance to leave their homes for remunerative work and the proposed increase in wages was to bo 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 provido 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 people have faced the position squarely. It is the expectation of the Government that theso measures will lead to a substantial improvement (n the unemployment situation and about SUGG men will be absorbed immediately.” The speaker 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 tbs session. It would require local authorities to make a housing survey to be used as the 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 tho committee working on this matter would be published shortly.