UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

RELIEF WORKS

LOCAL BODY LOANS

BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, June 26.

When the Local Bodies’ Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Extension Bill was introduced in the House to-day, it led to unexpected discussion. After the Bill had been read the first time, it was accorded urgency for all stages. The Hon. G. W. Forbes explained that the Bill was exactly similar to the former measures and would allow local bodies to raise loans for the relief of unemployment. Mr W Downie Stewart (R., Dunedin West), asked if the Prime Minister had any figures to show how far local bodies had availed themselves of the provisions of the Bill.

Mr Forbes said that he had not got the figures, but would be pleased to procure them. Applications under the Bill were dealt with by the Local Bodies Loan Board. Mr D. G. Sullivan (L., Avon): What has been the attitude of the board towards applications? Mr Forbes: The hon. gentleman is asking a question in which he is interested?

Mr Sullivan: Yes. Mr Forbes: Objections in that case will be heard by the board.

Mr Sullivan: There is only one from the Chamber of Commerce. Mr J. S. Fletcher (1., Grey Lynn) : Why haven’t we a copy of the Bill? Mr Forbes: There is no alteration in the Bill.

Mr W. D. Lysnar (1., Gisborne): What about the limitation of the amount that can be raised ?

Mr Forbes: That is left to the discretion of the board. The Act has been in operation since 1927 and has not been abused. The Bill was read a second time and the House went into committee after Mr W. J. Broadfoot (U., Waitomo), had been appointed acting chairman in the absence of Mr W. A. Bodkin.

Mr G. C. Black (1., Motueka), rose to a point of order and asked for a copy of the Bill.

Mr J. G. Coates: May I point out that the Bill can be found in the Statute Book. Members: Here it comes. (Copies were then handed round.)

Local Bodies Praised. Mr Sullivan referred to the good work done by many local bodies which had taken advantage of the legislation and expressed the hope that no difficulties would be raised by the Local Government Loans Board to prevent works being put in hand. Mr A. Harris (R., Waiteraata), said he believed the operation of the act was largely restricted or nullified by the board. Many local bodies had experienced decided opposition from the board and the Government should look into the matter. It seemed strange the board should raise obstacles when local bodies were prepared to rate themselves in order to assist the Government..

Mr Forbes said he did not dispute that unemployment was a national obligation, but under the Number Five scheme local bodies had received the benefit and they could not divest themselves altogether of the responsibility. ’ He thought the composition of the local Government Loans Board was sufficient to inspire confidence in it. The board was working in the best interests of the country as a whole.

Mr R. A. Wright (R., Wellington Suburbs), said that at present restrictions were placed on local bodies as to the work which unemployed could do, and it seemed to him the time had come when local bodies should be given a greater measure of freedom.

Mr Forbes said the amount of money raised under the Act was £102,532 in 1928-29, £120,400 in 1929-30 and £110,150 in 1930-31, a total of £333,083. That had been subsidised by the Government to the extent of £175,102 and by the Unemployment Board to the. amount of £63,965. Mr F. Langstone (L., Waimarino), claimed that the Bill should not be necessary because the Government should raise all the money necessary and not leave local bodies to bear the burden.

Mr H. E. Holland (L., Buller), referred to the fact that works which had been on the Estimates could not be undertaken under the Number Five Scheme. The Hon. S. G. Smith: Of course the hon. gentleman realizes that that prevents a great number of men being dismissed. Mr Holland said that he realized that, but votes were made for work which was never authorized, but could not be done by the unemployed. Local bodies were finding it hard -to find work for unemployed, and as a consequence men were being kept on works that were not of much use. Mr Lysnar said the Government could not do everything and it was putting up quite an impossible proposition to ask the Government to find all the money. Mr Langstone: Thank you for opposing it.

Mr Lysnar: Local bodies must be more self-reliant. It was quite unreasonable to ask the Government to do everything. Mr Langstone: Shocking. Mr Lysnar: Yes, shocking. There are a lot of unemployed scratching around. Mr W. E. Parry (L., Auckland Central) : There’s nothing for them to scratch at. The committee stages were concluded without further discussion, and the Bill was read the third time and passed. SERIOUS REDUCTION ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. POSITION IN INVERCARGILL. There hits been a very large reduction in the allocation of money to be spent on the relief of unemployment for the week ending July 4,” said his Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller), who was approached last night for information on the sum allotted to Invercargill after private advice had been received from Dunedin that a reduction had been made. Although his Worship was not prepared last night to state the amount of the reduction or the percentage involved, he said it would mean that very little work could be carried on under the Number 5 scheme. He could not, at that stage, state to what extent the work would have to be cut down,' but he intended to have a conference with the city engineer this morning and would also go thoroughly into the question with the. other members of the Unemployment Committee at a meeting set down for this morning. His Worship added that it was quite possible that the council’s scheme for carrying on the relief work would require to be adopted. THE REGISTRATIONS SLIGHT INCREASE RECORDED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 26. During the week ended June 22 the registrations of unemployed for the Dominion totalled 44,521 compared with 44,482 for the previous seven days. In supplying particulars of the registrations the Minister of Labour, the Hon S. G. Smith, said the apparent increase for the week was 39. The number of men who qualified under No. 5 Scheme and were placed in work totalled 28,091, while 4716 were engaged under the 4A Scheme and 550 under the 4B Scheme.. The total number of men for whom no work was found was 11,134, but it was probable that the majority of these were not eligible for employment during the .week under the board’s scheme of rationing, whilst the others could not be suitably

placed on account of their physical disability. Particulars of the registrations in the main centres are as follows:— With Without dependants, dependants. Auckland 2744 3460 Wellington 1768 2720 Christchurch 2884 1854 Dunedin 1487 1156 Invercargill 696 ’ 310 The total registrations in the main centres were as follows, the figures for the previous week also being given:— This Previous week. week. Auckland 6204 6198 Wellington 4488 4366 Christchurch 4738 4903 Dunedin 2643 2681 Invercargill , 1006 992

WAIKATO MINEES NON-PAYMENT OF LEVY. Auckland, June 26. It is believed from inquiries made from the Waikato Coal Company that the miners’ unions in the Waikato district have already decided not to pay the June instalment of the unemployment levy. It was stated by the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Seamen’s Union, Mr T. Anderson, that as a seamen’s ballot on the question would occupy about three months, no such ballot was contemplated.