UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 13

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

Bill BEFORE THE HOUSE

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS. SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION. J-jjy TELEGRAPH. —.SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The policy bv which (he Government proposes to deal with the unemployment problem was fully debated in tho House of Representatives to-day at. the second reading stage of the Unemployment Bill. The bill is later I" be referred to a special comriitteo and the nature of the criticism of the measure indicated the probability of (he bill undergoing some vital changes before it makes its next appearance in tho House. Explaining the bill, the Minister of Labour, the linn. S. G. Smith, said if was (]ie outcome of tho Government's investi- • gatious in tho report of the Special Committee appointed during the term of the Reform Government, and he wished to pay a tribute to the work of tho members of that body. Mr. I>. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South): How many of its recommendations are in t he bill ? The Minister said lie would go into that later. Request for Co-operation. "This is looked upon as one of tho most important measures before the House and one for which I am entitled to ask for tho sympathetic co-operation of members (o do something (o alleviate (he great problem of unemployment," he said. There would be 110 delay in putting the bill into effect, and tho proposed board would bo set up immediately, the first levy falling due on December 1. The Rt. Hon. J. C. Coates: A Christmas box! The Minister said that (ho proposed unemployment fund would bo part of the Public Account, and as a result it could ho operated on only through tho Minister of Finance, being also subject to audit bv the Audit Department. The suggested subsidy to the fund would bo paid only upon money expended out of it, so that there vrould be no charge upon the Consolidated Fund, except in respect of money actually spent. "In regard to the levy, it has been suggested that the imposition of a flat rate of £1 10s a head 011 all male persons over the age of 20 is unfair," the Minister said, "but it must be remembered, and I want to make thi3 quite clear, that when the Budget is brought down, the Government's proposals for raising its share of the fund will be revealed, and it will be shown that that will remove to a considerable exent some of the suggestions that the levy of £1 10s is unfair. The Unemployment Committee in its recommendations regarding the raising of money for the purpose of tho fund stressed the point that it has in view a distribution of the burden as equitably as possible, and 1 think members will find (hat when (he Government's proposals are revealed the recommendations of tho committee have been given effect to, but in a different way." Method of Payment. Tho Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland: Has the Minister any idea of the amount that will be raised by the levy ? Mr. Smith said that it was estimated the revenue from that source would be over £500.000. The method of payment would l>e through the post offices, and a simple scheme had been devised by officers of the Postal Department. "The bill im--1 poses upon every male resident the duty of registering, whether he comes under the benefits of the bill or not," be added. "WTien once registered ho will have the privilege of paying the annual levy in one sum, or extending it over four quarterly payments. Little booklets will be issued showing the name of the person regis(ered, his address and occupalion, and in that there will be J receipt for the levy paid. I am sure (hat when the maUer is explained to the committee which will consider this bill, it will agree that the system is a simple one and (hat it will not impose any great hardship." Returned Soldiers' Interests.

Referring to the composition of the board, the Minister said that tile Government had not considered the appointment of anyone to the board. It desired to get the very best men it could for the personnel so that it could form a board in which the country would have complete confidence. The report of the Ex-soldiers Rehabilitation Committee had suggested the appointment of a Soldiers' Civil Recstablishment League, but in view of preterit conditions tho Government did not ■feel justified in setting up another body. It believed, however, that through having a returned soldiers' representative on tho board it could do everything that was necessary for the assistance of returned toldiers.

It was believed that it would be possible to arrange with the technical schools to undertake, vocational training, not only for disabled persons generally, but also for disabled ex-soldiers in order that they might be able to undertake suitable employment., and the board would direct its attention to this work. "1 believe this will be tho beginning of ft movement that will be of great benefit to many people in New Zealand, ' tho Minister said. "At present many are unable to fill their ordinary occupation, but this will give them an opportunity of gaining tome training to enable them belter to meet the battle of life." Mr. A. Harris (Reform —Waitemata) : Was that one of the reasons for tho inilusion of a returned soldier on tho board ?

Tlio Minister: Yes, (hat is so. Sustenance Allowance. Referring to loans which the board would ho empowered to make, ho said that, these would be made only out of its own funds, and thev would be directed toward assisting in the opening of avenues of employment, each caso being judged on its merits. Sustenance allowances would be paid only to contributors to the fund. Nothing would be paid until the contributor had been out of work for 14 days, nor would a payment be continued for more than 13 consecutive weeks. l>v those means it was hoped that steps would be taken to avoid riialinger'ng o.a the, part of unemployed. The bill initiated a pioneering movement and in ordei that the best possible results should be obtained it was necessary that the board should be possessed of wide powers. This was provided for in tho last clause, setting nut what regulations might be rnad.. bv Order-in Council. fhe Minister said that steps would he taken in the future to find permanent employment of a moie reproductive nature. Jhe Minister of Lands had almost completed a scheme for the absorption of a large nurnhei of men on the land, and bis efforts, ir> conpincfion with thoso of the board, would assist materially to cure unemployment. Tho bill was a Government measure and the Government was anxious to see it passed, as it, was in accordance with the Government's policy. Criticism would bo welcomed, but it was hoped that't would bo constructive and not merely derogatory.