THE UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 14

THE UNEMPLOYED

REDUCTION IN NUMBER LAST RETURN IN OLD FORM TRANSFER TO SOCIAL SECURITY [IJT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday Particulars of unemployment registrations were announced to-day by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. Tho-Minister said the return for 3larch 11, 1939, including those on register who were for health or other reasons unfit for employment, disclosed a reduction of 6713 as against the corresponding figure for March 12, 1938. Compared with the position for the previous month, there was a decrease of 445. 1 The returns for the period, compared with those for February 11, arc as follows: Feb. 11 Mar. 11 Registered, but not on relief 823 610 On sustenance, awaiting placement ... , • • On Scheme No. 5 relief .. 3-<> ' Total .. •• •• 1."3 720 On sustenance, unfit for employment for fcpiilth _or other reasons, but being afforded relief from the Employment Promotion Fund .. ••

For the fonr-weekly period under review the expenditure from the fund under the heading of promotion of employment, as distinct from Relief expenditure, was estimated at £435,121, compared with £492,710 for the period ended February 11. "This is the last statement of unemployment in tho Dominion that will be presented in this form," said Mr. Webb. "The Employment Promotion Act has been repealed and under the new social security legislation 110 provision exists for the Labour Department to continue its purely unemployment relief activities. This has resulted in the discontinuance from March 31, 1939, of the payment of sustenance, the provision of rationed work, relief under Scheme No. 5, and the payment of sustenance to those unfit for. employment for health or other reasons, but who have been afforded relief from the Employment Promotion Fund.

"In future the incidence of unemployment will be reflected by the numbers in receipt of unemployment benefits provided under the Social Security Act. The activities of the Employment Division of the Labour Department will in future be restricted to the promotion of employment and placement work."