UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 61

UNEMPLOYMENT.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED WELLINGTON, August 17. The Unemployment Board has appointed the following special committee to consider the question of. unemployment amongst women:— Mr 11. D. Thomson, under-secretary of the Department of Immigration (chairman ).

Mr Frank Compbell (Wellington, expresident of the New Zealand. Manufacturers’ Association.

Mrs Marshall MacDonald (Dunedin). Miss B. E. Carnachan, president of the National Council of Women (Auckland).

LATEST REGISTRATIONS ( W ELLINGTON, August 21. An apparent increase of 462 in the un employment registrations is shown for the week ended August 17, when the total was 49,132. The Minister of Labour states that the number of men placed under the No. 5 scheme was 32,978. A total of 4948 was engaged under scheme No. 4a, and 1115 under scheme No. 4b. The men for whom no work had been provided numbered 10,091, but many of these would be standing ylown under the requirement of scheme No. 5 that they should do so in one week out of each four, while others would be of a class that was not employable owing to inability to undertake manual work.

THE REDUCED ALLOCATIONS.

MINISTER S EXPLANATIONS.

A deputation from the local Unemployment Committee waited on the Minister of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) on Tuesday with a view to placing before him the desperate position brought about by the reduction in the Unemployment Board's allocations.

Tlie Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) stated that there were about 2500 unemployed men in Dunedin, and the board recently raised their hopes that those men would be looked after, but the position at the present time was worse than before, as the allocations had been cut down by several hundred pounds. He was of the opinion that some definite policy should be set in operation under which the local bodies would know in advance the sums to be placed at their disposal in order that they might be able to make up the deficiency between those sums and the actual requirements. The Mayor of St. Kilda (Mr Beattie) said that his council had not been able to employ men on reproductive work, and lately they had been engaged on work which would have to be done again. Mr A. M’Hutchon said that the committee was working under the old regulations, which did not meet the needs of the really genuine cases of distress. The estimates were made up by the committee and sent to Wellington, but these were invariably reduced. The money was not forthcoming from the board, and now it was neces: ary to reduce the time during which the men could be employed. Mr Black referred to the position of boys of from 16 to 20 years of age, who were_not eligible for relief under the No. 5 sdieme, and who yet were not classed as dependents, and asked that the matter be placed before the Minister of Labour. He was of the opinion that those youths could be grouped in camps and allowed to work the land under supervision.

Mrs Marshall Macdonald said that even although relief depots were carrying on their work the position was acute. She thought that the only solution of the problem was to provide employment for four weeks on end, even if that meantadditional taxation.

“ I am quite aware of the seriousness of the position,” said the Minister in reply. “All information on the subject is made readily available to Ministers, and we keep in close touch with it. The serious view which your personal knowledge forces you to take of the local position will enable you to appreciate how the situation over the whole Dominion appears to the Government. The Government owes a debt of gratitude to the local unemployment committees.” The Minister went qn to explain that when the original Unemployment Act was framed it provided for the raising of certain income, which, however, owing to an unfortunate increase in the numbers of unemployed, produced insufficient for the purpose of relief. Under the amending legislation passed recently it was hoped that the larger sum, the collection of which it had authorised, would enable more effective relief to be given. The position at the present time was that the Unemployment Board’s income amounted only to about £1 per week per unemployed man. Out of this, which constituted the fund from which the allocations were made, all chargee, in . addition to actual cash payments by way of wages had to be met. There were only two W’ays. as far as he could see. by means of which sufficient money could be raised to give full relief, and at the same time embark upon works of a more developmental character. One method was to put additional taxation on to the shoulders of the community, which the Government was anxious ,to avoid if possible, and the second was to utilise loan moneys for developmental and productive works. Cabinet, as a matter of fact, considered the whole position and examined certain proposals which, if it found possible to put into effect, would have the result of relieving the difficult position now existing and at the same time introducing into the relief work a developmental and reproductive character which would increase its value to the community as a .whole. Mr Taverner concluded by assuring the deputation that he would place its representations before his colleague the Minister of Labour on his return to Wellington. SCHEMES OF WORK

SUPPORT FOR No. 4a SCHEME.

A meeting, called by the Otago Counties’ Association (Mr James Ritchie,

president; Mr D. W. Potter, secretary), was held in the Dunedin City Council Chambers on Thursday afternoon for the purpose of discussing the No. 5 unemployment scheme, more particularly with a view to putting an end to the present unsatisfactory practise of allocations being reduced at the last minute, thereby causing a considerable amount of unnecessary travelling and work to each council’s staff.

There were also present Messrs J. Gray and H. E. Ransome (Milton BoroughCouncil), I). M'Gregor and J. H Bateman (Bruce County Council), J. Rodman (Waitaki County Council), E. H. Murney and F. D. Gray (Tuapeka County Council), J. Logan (Taieri County Council), R. L. Smith (Waihemo County Council), and D. Jack (Balclutha County Council). The chairman raid this was the first meeting of the association, which was formed with the object of bringing all the counties in Otago together to discuss national problems and -problems affecting Otago. It had been considered that the present was an opportune time to bring the members together to have matters discussed that affected the Dominion as far as unemployment was concerned. He thought it would not be right to criticise the actions of the Unemployment Board or the position that had obtained since the board was first constituted, because as time went on it was realised that the scheme of providing work for the whole of the unemployed was a far greater one than it was ever expected to be. He believed the authorities had done the best they could under the circumstances, though it had not proved satisfactory to the local bodies. More especially was this the case iu that they had to provide work almost at a day's notice. Further, they could not employ men on work that they might be expected to undertake in the next year or two, and work had to be found near the men’s homes to save cost of transport to local bodies. Consequently, much of the work that was being done by local bodies throughout the Dominion was work that probably would not have been put in hand m the next 10 or 20 years. He hoped, therefore, the meeting would put some proposition to the Unemployment Board which would bring about a more satisfactory method of working and would assist the local bodies to some extent. Many people seemed to think that the work done by the unemployed for county councils was a gift to them. That was not the case. In his own county it meant a subsidy of £ for £. Mr Ritchie went on to point out that, it was not satisfactory to get notice on, say, Friday night that work was to start on the following Monday. It meant telephoning to men in scattered parts of the district, and the cost of so doing in Vincent County meant an outlay of £lO a month. Another difficulty was the provision for work for three or four days a week. This was no use to local bodies. They wanted to be able to give the men a fortnight’s work straight out, even though the payment had to be spread over a month. He would also like to express the view that the Unemployment Board should not make a local body take on work that it otherwise would not touch for 10 or 20 years. Let them be employed on works that were useful to the people as a whole. He wished to point out that the activities of local bodiea were limited, because there were hundreds of men on the land in the country who could not pay their rates. Unless the county councils were allowed to take up work that was on this year’s estimates or next year’s estimates the No. 5 scheme would be of no real benefit to them. He trusted the local bodies would all pull together. They must all help, and destructive criticism was no good. Let them offer something to the board that would help it, and help the countries at the same time.

Mr J. Gray said his council was outside the association, but so far as the Milton Borough Council was concerned it was just about at the end of its tether in providing employment for men Elis council was in sympathy with the action of the Bruce Council in sending out men to widen the roads, and the farmers had agreed to find the cartage. He thought the thrifty man was being penalised, and he thought these men should be allowed some work to bring them into line with those who had not looked after their money. His council was willing to work in with his county whenever possible.

The chairman said the Cromwell Borough Council was also willing to work in with the Vincent County Council, but there were difficulties in the way. They knew that the Government intended to cut out the 4a scheme at the end of August 31. There were 9000 men employed under the scheme, and the Government considered that when the seasonal occupations came along these men should be absorbed by the farmer. He was prepared to say, however, that 7000 men out of the 9000 could not be absorbed, and they would be thrown on to the No. 5 scheme. Surely it was better that the young men should be kept on the farms. Farmers had told him that when the 4a scheme was dropped they would have, in many cases, to dispense with the men.

Mr Murney referred to the trouble through the alteration of the allocations by the Unemployment Board. He moved—" That this meeting convey to the Unemployment Board a strong pro test against the short notice of changes in the allocations to local bodies, ami ask that at least one week’s notice be

given of any change.” Mr Murney said he th ought that, in order to work efficiently and obtain some reasonable return from the work carried out, they should have less alterations in the allocations.

Mr Smith seconded the motion. Mr Dogan said that so far as the Taieri County Council was concerned it had been given notice of the allocations a week ahead. The resolution would be foolish if they asked for something to be done that was already in operation. The chairman said that Mr Logan’s experience was not that of the Vincent County Council.

Mr Logan said that in the face of .> explanations offered he thought the resolution might be put to the meeting. Mr Jack said each county council : light enter its own protest.

Mr Rodman said any work carried out in the Waitaki County Council under the unemployment scheme had been of a very helpful nature. Since the wages had been reduced his council had tried to employ all the men possible on works in the county. If they could get help to carry out work at some distances away it would prove very helpful. As regarded the allocations, no doubt with the changing condition the board was often placed in a difficulty. Any resolution carried should be carried unanimously. His county had already c immunicated with the board to see if it could be given assistance to carry out works in the outlying districts. He was not sure that unpaid rates could be set out as an asset, because much of the money would not be paid. He was just wondering whether it would not be better to reduce the wages instead of reducing the number of days the- men were to be employed. He knew the counties were out to assist the board whenever possible. Mr Murney’s motion was carried unanimously. Mr Rodman said he would move that they ask the board to introduce a scheme under which the number of days of employment per month should be allowed to be continuous, the payments to be spread over the month.

Mr Ritchie said his county had between 50 or 60 men working, and they were employed in many places, sometimes many miles apart. His county could do excellent work if they could put the men into camps and give them a fortnight’s work straight out. The men could carry out stretches of road gravelling under such a system. Mr Rodman’s motion was carried.

Mr Potter gave details of the scheme which he had submitted to the board under which the various post offices would pay the men. The board, however, had turned it down because it would entail too much work on the post office officials and moreover it had been held that every form of payment would have to be signed by a Government employee. Other delegates gave information regarding the system they had adopted of paying the men’s wages.

Mr Ritchie said it was a very difficult matter to get into touch with the men on the works in his county, which had an area of a million and a-half acres.

Mr F. D. Gray moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the Unemployment Board that local postmasters be authorised to pay wages on being supplied with the necessary money and the requisite forms.” The motion was carried.

Mr M’Gregor moved—“ That this meeting respectfully requests the unemployment board to reconsider its decision to discontinue the operation of the 4a scheme.” He said they were all aware that quite a number of young men would be discharged if the scheme were abandoned.

Mr Rodman seconded the motion.

Air M'Gregor said if their unemployed increased in number they would have to have their taxes increased. By keeping the men on the farms they would help to obviate this pssible increase. Mr J. Gray said he thought the 4a scheme was a good one. He thought the farmer should be given a subsidy so that he could keep the men employed. The chairman said he thought the 4a scheme was the best the board had brought forward. His county had taken steps to send the young single men out on to the farms.

Mr M'Gregor's motion was carried. MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS. The meeting did not discuss the Transport Bill, although the chairman brought the subject forward, and a brief discussion took place with regard to heavy traffic fees. It was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr M'Gregor, “ That it be a recommendation to the Government that the motor vehicle regulations be amended in the direction of giving power to local authorities to impound any heavy traffic vehicle, the owner of which runs consistently without a license or who cannot pay any fines imposed by the court.”

It was decided to forward the resolutions to the Government.

The chairman thanked the representatives for their attendance. It was only by making representations to the proper authorities that local bodies could hope to get anything done, and the Unemployment Board, he was sure, would welcome representations made by a body of county councils such as the Otago County Councils’ Association.

A vote of thanks was accorded the chairman for presiding.