EMPLOYMENT POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22241, 16 October 1935, Page 15

EMPLOYMENT POLICY

TRIBUTES TO BOARD PROBLEM OF YOUNG PEOPLE [BV TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Evidence of a change in the attitude of Labour members toward the unemployment problem was provided in the House of Keprosentatives to-night when the estimates for the Unemployment Fund were under discussion. At no stage was there anything like the heated comments of recent years, and several members of tho Opposition even went so far as to commend the Minister of l£niployment, Hon. S. G. Smith, on various details of his administration. "I think the Unemployment Board has been greatly improved during tho past 12 months," said Mr. P. Webb (Labour —Buller), "and I speak as tho representative of an electorate where half tho peoplo are 011 the unemployment register. Tho new commissioner is showing a sympathetic outlook on the matters that are brought under his notice. My experience with tho board has been very pleasant, and 1 can say tho same for tho Minister, too. On the other hand, I must say that in my opinion tho lack of provision for young men and young women is a great mistake." An indication that within a few months tho Government intends to take definite action to provide vocational training for unemployed young peoplo was given by the Minister when replying to various speakers. "We arc in danger of being in this position in New Zealand," he stated, "that when things get back to normal we will be so short of skilled workers that we will have to import them. "We wish to obviate a position of that kind, however, and hope to do something within a few months to catch up the leeway that has been allowed to occur in connection with the training of young people for various trades. We hope to formulate a policy that will have the effect of fitting them to take their place in industry."