PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 20527, 2 July 1928, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

SATURDAY’S WORK

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF DISCUSSED OPPOSITION’S AMENDMENT DEFEATED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 30. After the Telegraph Office closed, the debate was continued by Mr Jordan, who censured the immigration policy of the Government as being mainly responsible for unemployment. The Government had caused unemployment and failed to deal with it in anything like an adequate manner. For that reason he was proud to be associated with the amendment moved by the Opposition. The discussion then closed, a division being taken at 2.30, the amendment being defeated by 40 to 14, only the Labour members and Mr H. Atmore voting for it. The following pairs were recorded: —For the amendment Messrs J. McCombs and W. A. Veitch; against the amendment; The Hon. G. J. Anderson and Sir M. Pomare. The Premier moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Amendment Bill. He explained that by the Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Act, 1926, local authorities are empowered to borrow money (without having taken a poll of the ratepayers) for public works undertaken in relief of unemployment. By the Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Extension Act, 1927, it is provided that no moneys shall be so borrowed after June 30, 1928. The present Bill extends the power to borrow under the principal Act for one year-(that is, until June 30, 1929). By section four of the Imprest Supply Act, 1927, provision was made for payment out of the Consolidated Fund of a subsidy to local authorities on amounts expended on public works in relief of unemployment. It is proposed to repeal that section and to re-enact it in the present Bill, at the same time increasing the aggregate amount of subsidies from £150,000 to £300,000.

Mr R. McKeen asked the Premier to agree to subsidize local bodies which paid full rates of wages on the total amount ■pent, and not merely on 9/- and 12/- per day. Mr D. Sullivan asked that the subsidy be paid on material used on relief works as well as on wages.

The Premier said both requests opened up large and difficult questions, but the Government was anxious to co-operate, and the matters would not be lost sight of. The Bill then passed the remaining stages unamended.