PLACEMENT SCHEME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 4

PLACEMENT SCHEME

FOUR MONTHS' OPERATION

BENEFITS OUTLINED

MINISTER, GIVES FIGURES

(Special to the Herald.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “At the end of four months’ practical operation, I can sincerely say that I am proud of this scheme which the Government introduced as one means of giving effect to its policy of improving the unfortunate lot of those who, with their dependants, were compelled to suffer a mere existence because of lack of employ, ment,” stated the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, on Saturday, when releasing for publication a statement of the direct and indirect benefits accruing as a- result of the placement scheme, which represents one ot the most important functions of the employment division of the Labour Department.

“Up to the week ended September 12, 1936,. continued the Minister, “3521 men were absorbed in permanent private employment, 1305 in casual positions, and 1932 in temporary employment. Of the 3521 permanently placed, 2702 filled positions in productive industry—primary and secondary—the balance of 819 proceeding to what may be termed unproductive employment. “It is accepted by statistical experts :hat every 100 workers directly engaged in any kind of primary or secondary proluetive industry maintain 108 others in non-productive or only indirectly productive work. INDIRECT BENEFITS “Relating the above statement to the olacement scheme results, it is found that:— “(1) The 2702 industrial placements indicate that 2918 additional workers have been placed in subsidiary employment. “(2) That the £620 men thus found employment would be supporting 9900 dependants, based on the census figures for 1926. “(3j In addition to permanent placements, 1305 men have been found casual employment and 1932 men placed in temporary positions. These 3237 men would :e supporting 5700 dependants. “(4) The placement scheme, up to the week ended September 12, 1936, therefore has been directly or indirectly responsible for giving a reasonable standard of living to 2)4,457 individuals, as under: a) Permanently: 5620 men, plus 9900 defendants ; (b) temporarily: 3237 men, plus 5700 dependants. ENCOURAGING CO-OPERATION “Naturally these results have not been achieved without a great deal of planning and effort on the part of my officers. The co-operation afforded by employers .ias been most encouraging, while , tho really libeial and excellent support so readily extended by the press of the Dominion has contributed very largely to the almost universal public acceptance of the scheme. I would urge every emrloyer to take_ full advantage of tho gratuitous service offered. The scheme includes the pre-placement verification of aast experience and quality of service eudered. This feature is believed to be novel, and ensures, as far as is reasonably oossible, the efficiency and integrity of candidates offered to' prospective employers.”