UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 9

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

FARMERS DEBATE RELIEF/

PROPOSED REMEDIES.

PERMANENT FUND DISLIKED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Criticism of the proposals of the Unemployment Committee for the raising of money for relief works was made at the annual conference of the Farmers' Union, when the following remit from Southland came up for discussion: .-"That this conference, while recognising the 'seriousness, of unemployment and the unsatisfactory nature of the methods of giving relief, is of tho following opinion:— "(a) That tho proposals made in the report of the special committee—to levytaxes for the relief of unemployment on incomes, undistributed profits, unimproved values of country lands, and a general rate on local bodies—would bo unfair in its incidence and detrimental to the progress of the country. "(b) That a tax on luxuries is the fairest way of affording relief to unemployed people." Mr. A. E. Johnson (Waikaka Valley) said thoy objected to standard wages being paid to unemployed workers. The committee had even gone as far as to say that travelling expenses should be paid to men going to work. Mr. E. Bowman (Charlton Gore) said standard wages would lead to New Zealand's having a permanent army of unemployed. Mr. H, M. Ruslnvorth, M.P., said that if a tax was to be placed on luxury imports there should also be excise duties. The president, Mr. W. J. Poison, said his chief objection to the payment of rates for the unemployed was that it was suggested that both single and married men should be paid 14s a day. Objection to Proposed Pond. Mr. W. W. Mulholland (Dai-field) said his objection to the remit was that it suggested a permanent board for the control of unemployment and a permanent fund* The committee had been too pessimistic when it suggested a wage fund of £1,000,000. This would, never get rid of unemployment, but would do a great deal of damage. He moved as an amendment the North Canterbury remit: "That fthe relief of unemployment, which is regretably prevalent, should be by means of relief works of value to the community. Relief rates of pay should be paid quite distinct from the ratfes for usual public works. The root causes of unemployment should be vigorously sought by a tribunal and remedies should be applied 1 by basic means rather than by temporary palia-f tives." Mr. J. R. Franklyn (Wanganui) said that in the Dominion there were hundreds of thousands of pounds being invested in gilt-edged securities, although there was plenty of work to be done. Capital was afraid of the power of the unions. Mi'. F. Colbeck said he considered thai no tax at all should be raised, but that the unemployment problem should be treated as a passing phase and dealt with by the Consolidated Fund. Committee Eedralts Remits. ; Mr. W. B. Matheson said that if one i section of the community was to be | sheltered by the Arbitration Court all sections should be, and this was Communism. What they wanted was a return to freedom of contract. It was this that had made the British Empire. The chairman suggested that as there were several remits dealing with unemployment on the order paper, and as there were points in each with which they were in agreement, a committee should be set up. to bring down something acceptable to them all. A committee consisting of Messrs. Colbeck, Matheson, Johnston and Mulholland was appointed to consider th« remits. The committee finally drafted the remits as follows, these being adopted without further discussion:— (1) That this conference deplores tha unemployment throughout the Dominion to-day und recognises the responsibility of the community as a whole to relieve present distress and, still more important, to find a remedy. (2) While recognising that there is much of value in tho report of the Unemployment Committee, we consider that any relief proposed must be viewed with regard to its ultimate effect on the elimination of unemployment. (3) Emphatically we protest against regarding unemployment as permanent and against setting up an organisation to create and administer a permanent fund of £1,000,000 per annum by additional taxation for the relief of the unemployed, with power to spend without restriction. (4) Further, wo object to giving the suggested power to control Government or local body or private activities. (5) Money required for relief purposes should be obtained from the Consolidated Fund, and if extra revenue must be found for this purposo it should be obtained by a tax on luxuries. (6) All unemployed relief work should be on the basis of contract or piece work and all payments be at a rate less than the standard wage, with a distinction between that paid to married and to single men. Permanent measures should be aimed at clearing away the obstruction to the profitable employment of labour and capital. These should include a lowering of costs by (1) the immediate reduction of all protective duties on tho necessaries of life and the tools and materials of production; and (2) drastic economy in public expenditure. DOMINION FIGURES. SLIGHT INCREASE SHOWN* THE WEEKLY REGISTRATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON; Thursday. According to a statement raado by the Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, to-day, the unemployed registered in New Zealand for the week ended June 16 totalled 5263. Of this number 2766 were with dependants and 2497 without. The total shows an increase of 196 ovar the previous week. Details of city figures are as follows:—• Auckland, with dependants, 772; without, 711; Wellington, 339 and 364; Chvistchurch, 520 and 399; Dnnedin, 156 and 120; Invcrcargill, 90 and 56. SHORTENING OP HOURS. CHRISTCHURCH SUGGESTION [BY TELEGRAPH. —rRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. A resolution suggesting that shortening of hours might be a means of relieving unemployment was passed at a conference between a special committee of tho City Council and members of tho staff and employees. Tho mooting considered a proposal in a resolution carried at the last meeting of the City Council for the introduction of a 44 hours', working week for the council's employees, the purpose being to relieve unemployment. Tho conference this evening was boycotted by tho --larger groups of employees of the City Council. The original proposal in the City Council came from Mr. A. E. Armstrong, and was opposed, by the Mayor and Labour members of the council. " ,■