UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 45

UNEMPLOYMENT.

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN Y.M.C.A. BOARD’S RESOLUTIONS. WELLINGTON, August 28. Resolutions regarding unemployment passed by the National Board of the Y.M.C.A. were submitted to the Minister of Labour (Mr*S. G. Smith) to-day offering the Government facilities to establish a free unemployment exchange in its centres to carry out relief work in connection with domestic workers. The exchange would be closely in touch with the women’s unemployment committees, and the Minister was asked to incl’ile women in the personnel of the Unemploy ment Board and that a fair proportion of the money available for relief be used for the relief of women out of work. The subsidising of labour of any kind which did not displace women already employed was recommended, and in addition to extending the use of the existing centres it was suggested that the possibility of open ing new centres for comprehensive domestic training might be explored. It was also suggested that country towns should be encouraged to meet the women's unemployment difficulties of their own districts through similar schemes. Every effort should be made to prevent the exploitation of girls and women by unnecessarily low wages. The need for raising the school leaving age was reaffirmed and it was suggested that more comprehensive schemes for vocational guidance might be adopted. - CAMPS FOR SINGLE MEN SCHEME OF REPRODUCTIVE WORK. WELLINGTON, August 29. The establishment of camps for single unemployed men is announced bj’ the Minister of Labour (Mr S. G. Smith). He says it is the aim of the newly-constituted Unemployment Board to reduce at an early date the colossal expenditure going on under the No. 5 scheme, and to provide for as much reproductive work as possible. The new board at its first meeting examined the financial statement of the fund. It was revealed that it had been overdrawn to the extent of The board unanimously agreed as a general policy to work in the direction of diverting the present expenditure on unemployment relief into more productive channels, deeming this absolutely essential if the country’s financial position is to be improved. The board proposes to establsh camps for single men in the country, where they will be able to do work of a development character, and where they will be provided with good food and shelter, and will be able to earn a certain amount of pocket money. The scheme is to be tested out on the secondary highway back-blocks roads, under the supervision of the Public Works Department. It is anticipated that 1000 men will be placed in this way immediately, and should the scheme prove satisfactory all single unemployed workers may ultimately be drafted to this type of work.

It ie the board’s policy to co-operate with the various State departments— Highways, Public Works, Lands, Native, State Forest, and others. Several big schemes for land development are at present under consideration, in addition to negotiations which are taking place with a view to stimulating certain more or less important primary industries that have been stopped as the direct result of the trade depression. In short, the board is anxious to reduce at an early date the colossal 'expenditure going on under the No. 5 scheme, much of which is of an unproductive character and of little community value. DOMINION REGISTRATIONS INCREASE OF 126 FOR WEEK. WELLINGTON, August 27. AiT apparent increase of 126 in the unemployment registrations is shown for the week ended August 24 when the total was 49,258. The Minister of Labour (Mr.S. G. Smith) said to-day that the number of men who were placed under the No. 5 scheme was 35,869, 4,929 were engaged under scheme 4a, 1093 under scheme 4b, and 112 placed in other employment. The men for whom no work was provided numbered 7255, but many of these, said the Minister, would be standing down under the requirement of scheme 5 that they should do so one week in each four, while others would be«-of the class not employable owing to inability to undertake manual work. Particulars of registrations in the main centres arc as follow:— With Without

PROVISION OF RELIEF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT CHARGE The Chief Postmaster has received from the Unemployment Commissioner a circular which gives definite information with reference to the payment of the emergency unemployment charge. In accordance with the Act remuneration of the classes set out in the following schedule is deemed to be salaries and wages and is liable for the charge. Overtime payment, allowance for special or additional duties, allowances for higher duties, house allowance, lodging and board allowances of a permanent nature, premium for teaching survey cadets, allowances for officers acting on advisory committees, officers acting under the National Provident Fund, night duty allowances, additional salary for management of hostels, and teaching for evening work (many other public service departments are mentioned). The following classes are also liable for payment of the charge: — Pensions paid by private firms to exemployees. Payments to females for cleaning office or business premises. Amounts drawn as salary by persons in business. Fees paid to directors of companies. Commission paid to salesmen or others remunerated on a commission basis where such commission does not include reimbursement of necessary expenses, such as provision of premises and/or staff. If commission includes travelling or other expenses necessarily incurred in the earning thereof the net amount only after deduction of such expenses is subject to the charge. Wages paid to part-time or casual employees, whether on a time or piecework basis. Amounts paid to contractors working as individuals. If amount so paid include allowance for vehicles or other plant provided the net amount only after deduction of such allowance is subject to the charge. The value of free board and/or lodging or meals provided for an employee. In the case of industrial workers under awards the valuation of board and lodging is to be assessed at £1 per week, or if meals only are provided they are to be assessed at Is each.

In the case of farm employees the value is to be assessed as follows:— Computed value per week single man or married man not accompanied by his wife and/or children, food only 10s, lodging only ss, food and lodging 15s. Computed value per week married man accompanied by wife and/or children—food only 20s, lodging only 10s, food and lodging 255. Payments to share milkers where such represent remuneration far labour only, notwithstanding that the remuneration may vary in accordance with returns received. Half of the remuneration (inclusive of valuation of board and/or lodging) of “ married couples ” employed on farms when the wife is engaged in domestic duties. Payments to indentured cadets for services rendered, notwithstanding that the engagement is in the nature of a contract. Payments to drovers where such include allowance for the use of horses and dogs at the rate of 15s per dav or two-thirds of the total payment whichever is the greater. In the next schedule the earnings are not deemed salaries or wages, but are liable for the unemployment charge as income other than salaries and wages. Superannuation payments from funds created under Acts of Parliament. Amounts drawn by persons in business in anticipation of profits, but not as a fixed salary or wage. Commission paid to agents, salesmen or others remunerated on a commission basis, where such commission includes reimbursement for provision of office and/or staff. Amounts paid to contractors who are not working as individuals, but are themselves employing labour. Payments to share-milkers, where the share milker is required to bear any expense in connection with the provision of stock, plant, or the operation of the farm. EXEMPTIONS. Remuneration deemed to be neither salaries and w-ages nor income other than salaries and wages, and therefore not liable:— Allowance to public servants or to other persons remunerated from public moneys, bank officers, etc., travelling allowances, relieving allowances, cadets’ lodging and board allowances which are of a temporary and diminishing nature, meal allowances, motor car and motor cycle allowances, bicycle allowances, horse aid forage allowances, field allowances, uniform outfit, instrument and typewriter allowances, entertainment allowances, garage allowances, allowance for use of rooms as offices, tropical allowances, locality allowances, extra cost of living allowances, overall allowances, allowances to officers receiving instruction overseas, disciplinary allowances, teller’s allowances, allowance to officers—marine post offices, board and lodging and/or small sums of money given as charitable relief by hostels or charitable institutions to inmates or others (not being employees) even if some w 7 ork may be required in return therefore, payments to charwomen or other female part-time employees in private houses, commission paid as “ extra commission ” in lieu of travelling allowance on sales effected in country districts.

Auckland Dependents Dependents .. 3221 4099 Wellington .. 2467 2295 Christchurch .. 3254 1787 Dunedin .. 1633 1198 Invercargill 871 416 The total registrations in the main centres, with the figures for the previous week being as follow:— given in parentheses, are Auckland .. .. 7320 (7156) Wellington . 4762 (4980) Christchurch .. .. 5041 (5250) Dunedin .. .. 2831 (2878) Invercargill .. .. 1287 (1278)