UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20678, 25 September 1930, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

OPINIONS IN THE COUNCIL.

SOME OUTSPOKEN OPPONENTS.

OTHER SOLUTIONS OF PROBLEM.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION." WELLINGTON. Wednesday. When the debate on the Unemployment Bill was resumed in the Legislative Council to-day the Hon. M. Fagan intimated that lie would oppose the Hon. W. Earnshaw's amendment that the bill should be read after the expiry of *six months. It, would be a mistake to postpone the operation of the bill when there was so much distress in tho country. He paid a tribute to the Government for what it had done to relieve tho position, but stated that at tho end of two years they found themselves in a worse position. Ihat was due to tho depression through which they were passing and he was sorry to have to say it was his opinion that they had not yet reached the climax. Tho sooner they got a systematised method of registration the better, for until that was brought about they would not know what tho actual position was. Two things were absolutely vital if they were going to tackle the problem as it should be tackled, continued Mr. Fagan. One was tho encouragement of secondary industries and the other was the placing of more people on the land. Ho described Mr. Earnshaw's amendment as " cold blooded and inhuman," and said it was degrading to ask the Council to vote upon it.

Possibilities of Mischief. Tho Hon. J. B. Gow (Auckland) expressed the hope that Mr. Fagan would not class him as an " inhuman monster " if ho voted for the amendment. He believed the bill did not offer the best method of dealing with the present problem. There were possibilities of mischief in it that would justify them in refusing to deal with the measure hastily. It had to be remembered that capital and labour in New Zealand were to a large extent in a strait jacket owing to restrictions imposed by the Arbitration Court, which failed to recogniso that wages must ultimately depend on production. The Court falsely based its decisions on the belief that it was necessary to maintain a certain standard of living. Mr. Gow said it was surely tho right and duty of every man to find a job for himself, and it would be fatal for the State to say that when a man was out of work he was entitled to receive a job at standard wages. The Government had made a serious mistake by paying standard rates on relief works. They were expected to swallow the whole bill whether they liked it or not. Mr. Gow criticised the personnel of the board, which, he said, was largely political. He objected to the setting up of another State department. The Hon. A. S. Malcolm (Southland) said it was true that the introduction of machinery had dislocated labour, but surely it could not' be suggested that they should do away with it. If the Council throw the bill out il would be impossible for tho Government to introduce another measure this session. He did not agree that the bill would create a dole system, as the system was already established per medium of the charitablo aid boards. As a fair-minded man, ho realised that he could not oppose the hill. He recognised that the dole was likely to prove demoralising in effect, but he did not think there were many who would prefer it to doing an honest day's work. If the local bodies now carrying the burden of unemployment were not afforded relief, many of them would be bankrupt at the end of 12 months; He agreed that the composition of the board might be improved.

"A Poll Tax Bill." The Hon. G. J. Garland (Auckland) said that one of the most sensible suggestions which had been mado was that people unemployed should recoive food and clothing, instead of money. He realised it was little use debating tlio matter at any length, as the Council had made up its mind that the bill would go through. If it were possible, he would move to amend the bill when in Committee. If the bill went on the Statute Book it would never come off again. The bill was not an unemployment bill, but a poll tax bill. The Hon. G. Witty (Canterbury) said he did not like the bill, but as it was the best proposition in sight he would vote against the amendment. It was the unemployable who were causing all the trouble in New Zealand. He was strongly opposed to the Arbitration Court, which was going too far altogether. One of the biggest mistakes which had been made was to give 14s a day on relief works. Sir Frederic Lang (Auckland) said he disagreed with so much in the bill that ho was forced to vote against it. He was opposed to youths of 20 being required to pay the levy, as it amounted to taxation without repi'esentation. He objected to the element' of political control introduced into the board and said the Minister should not bo a member. The debate was adjourned until tomorrow. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to day. The Nurses and Midvvives Registration Amendment Bill was received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. The Magistrate's Courts Amendment Bill was put through Committee and passed.