UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21196, 24 September 1930, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

DEBATE ON'BILL s OPPOSITION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL '■ POSTPONEMENT SOUGHT (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 23. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Moving the committal of the Unemployment Bill, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. R. Masters) said that the Bill might not be -perfect, but he was sure that every member would be sincerely desirous of helping to relieve the unemployment problem. Unemployment was a national responsibility and called for th? serious consideration of everybody. The Bill would make for more scientific distribution of the load on the'taxpayer. Ne'v( Zealand had a great deal of seasonal employment and that had aggravated the position as had the introduction of machinery and the drop which had taken place in the value of the produce. The amount of the levy was not nearly as large as that provided for in Australian States and elsewhere. No one would receive sustenance as a right and in that respect the legislation differed from that of other countries. It had to be remembered that New Zealand was already paying out large amounts in sustenance through the Charitable Aid Boards. The I Jon. W. Earnshaw moved as an amendment that the Bill should be read after the expiry of six months. The principles underlying the Bill were opposed to those on which the British Empire was founded. The Bill was absolutely political in character and it was futile to- say anything else. The object of the Bill was to relieve the suffering of those in need of sustenance, either through their own fault or through no fault of their own. He had been a working man all his life and was not opposing the Bill on political grounds, but for the reason that he knew the Bill was one of the most dangerous that could possibly be introduced into legislature. The dole would do nothing but create a class of men and women who would not work. He could not understand the Reform and United parties playing into the hands of those who believed in Marxian theories and Soviet principles. Mr Earnshaw strongly criticized the action of the Government in paying 14/- on relief works. He expressed strongest disapproval of the levy and said that the people should be given an opportunity of expressing an opinion regarding it. The amendment was seconded by the Hon. W. H. Triggs, who said that the Bill was altogether based on wrong principles. The Government had failed to diagnose the unemployment complaint properly and to administer the right medicine. He doubted whether the board proposed under the Bill could produce the goods. Sustenance payments would have a demoralizing effect on workers. At five o’clock the debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. D. Buddo and the Council adjourned until to-morrow.