UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

PRESENT SYSTEM CRITICISED RESOLUTIONS AT AUCKLAND (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, 22nd December. The view that the present system of unemployment relief was unsatisfactory was expressed by a conference ot local body representatives and others interested in the unemployment problem held in the Town Hall. Several decisions were reached by the gathering which was convened by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr G. W. Hutchison, on the suggestion of the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmeis Union. , It was resolved that steps be taken to restore trade union conditions. The Mayor moved that the conference recommend the provision of finance for the prosecution of State and municipal public works, the words at union rates of pay” being added after some discussion by the meeting. Mr Hutchison said it seemed to him

that there must be some State anil local body works to be done, even if » before their time, and which could be financed. Mr T. Bloodworth said the idea was that the unemployment funds of £4,000,000 a year could be used for financing such works. The motion was carried. A recommendation that the small farms scheme be extended was carried, and the principle of the introduction on a national scale of a contributory pension to operate at the age of 00 years was approved. The conference' approved the principle that provision should be made for vocational training for men whose vocations had permanently gone and for unemployed youths. It was decided that benefit would lie derived from general planning of industry to secure the most economic use of the manpower and resources of the Dominion, and that a committee should be convened to make recommendations in the matter. It was decided further that the committee should make proposals for local bodies in the metropolitan area to make a survey and compile a list of desirable metropolitan public works in order of their importance. A committee is to be set up to formulate a system of unemployment relief as an alternative to the present system, A resolution was carried expressing disapproval of the compulsory sending of married men to relief camps.