UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

OPPOSITION TO PROPOSALS. EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION. OTHER SOLUTIONS SUGGESTED. Some considered objections to the Unemployment Bill now beforo Parliament have been made in a statement forwarded by tho Auckland Provincial Employers' Association to Reform and United members of Parliament It was contended that the official figures did not justify tho assumption that unemployment in New Zealand had become a permanent featuro in economic life or had reached a stage at which it could not bo adequately dealt with by the Government with tho machinery at its disposal. That could be done probably with reorganisation and more close co-ordirialion but without the necessity for setting up another State department or board as suggested, and without resorting to the specialised form of taxation as proposed. Any good purpose the board might serve would bo better served by a development of industries boiyd, as suggested by tho New Zealand Manufacturers' Association.

The association claimed that a comparatively small proportionate increase in land settlement and a revival in local industries would be effective in practically eliminating existing unemployment in all cases where the unemployed were willing and able to give adequato return in labour for wages received. It had unfortunately to bo admitted, however, that there were a number of practically unemployable. Tho figures in October last placed these at 562, and no doubt there were others whom it would be difficult to place in permanent employment owing to unfitness. Tlioy could only bo dealt with on humanitarian grounds and must always remain a tax on tho country. Tho experience lately in tho larger centres, where for the most part that class congregated, showed that the social organisations, which have done magnificent voluntary work in dealing with cases of distress, were certainly entitled to more adequate financial aid. Tho association suggested therefore that hospital maintenance should bo separated from charitable aid. As the total of unemployed in New Zealand was apparently only a small fraction of 1 per cent, of the population, the association was confident that provided that adequato provision was made for the registration and an effective check was imposed on the influx of persons who were likely to become a charge on tho community, the unemployment problem in tho Dominion could be dealt with without tho necessity for special legislation as proposed. It was urged that the present measure should be held over until a complete and thorough investigation of all causes of unemployment was made, and a moro practicable scheme of dealing with it was evolved. The association was unanimously of tho opinion that onco the "dolo" system, camouflaged as "sustenance allowance," was introduced into New Zealand, it would have a most disastrous effect not only on tho morale of the people but on tho future prosperity of the country.