PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 80, 30 June 1928, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT; PROBLEM discussion in house LABOUR MOTION TABLED. Press Association—Copyright WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr P. Fraser announced his intention of introducing an Unemployment Workers’ Bill. In answer .to Mr Parry, who said unemployed were sleeping out in Auckland, the Prime Minister isaid he whs not aware of the fact. He; would do all) he could to find work for the unemployed. Work had been found for 90 in Auckland, and instructions given to find work for 250 or 300 more.

MOST PRESSING PROBLEM. On the question that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Savage (Labour) said he proposed to give the House an opportunity to consider one of the moist pressing problems which the Dominion had to face. He therefore proposed to move the following amendment to the motion before the House: “That this House expresses its strongest disapproval of the Government’s incapacity and neglect to deal (adequately with the acute and increased national unemployment problem, for which the Government must hear the responsibility, and which is causing such widespread destitution and distress. This House further condemns the Government for taking advantage of the helpless position of the unemployed to reduce wage s by professedly fixing a rate of pay for men on relief works at 9s per cfoy for single men and 12s pier day for married men, thus lowering the workers’ standard of living, and also for having failed to pay. to, relief workers - even .the totally - inadequate minimum wage- promised.” ! INADEQUATE BELIEF PAY. Thi s was seconded by Mr H. T. Armstrong, who maintained the Government rate of pay on. relief works was inadequate. Mr G, W. Forbes was not in sympathy with the amendment, because it attempted to make party capital out of unemployment, which was a pressing national problem and should be dealt with as such without any attempt being m/ade to corner the Government. All should help to find a solution'.

Mr Forbes advocated the employment of. men on,, national works at prpper rates of pay- He desired to see small contracts on which men could earn a fair day’s pay for a fairday’s work. Tbitf was the responsibility of the Government, which must face" it. He criticised the administration of the Lands Department, from whidh accurate figures could not be obtained. ;So far 'as he could judge land settlement in New Zealand was practically at a standstill. POLICY DEFENDED.

Mr Coates defended the Public Works policy against the criticism of Mr. Armstrong, claiming that adjustments between the engineers and the employees was done on a basis of fairness and equity. He then proceeded frbely to quote figures to show that the earnings of the men on relief work s . were far above the rate of 9s for single and 12s for married men. Their difficulty was that many men were not at first sufficiently fit to do hard work could not dam large wages. Mr .H, 8.. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that in not one particular had the Prime Minister answered the case made out by Mr Savage. Instead: of answering particular cases of low wages he had picked out certain of the best cases and put them before the House, but that did not help the man who could earn nothing to send home. That did not pay his rent. The wives and families had to live in the meantime. If a man n. giving the beet that in him ho .should receive oi living wage. - . Mr W A. Yeitch said unemployment was attributed to mlany causes, but in New Zealand it was due to extravagant and reckless ture by the, present Government, i consequence was large interest charfees, and this, supplemented by Lire diversion'of trade by State enterprise had contributed largely to unemployment. The Government »» abandon its policy of Social.™ and net back to the l”’ iey °! 1 i iil effort, which bad made r "iv, Hon. w. Nosworthy said the Gmmrnment had made an earnest an mocesstul effort to cope with the problem. Ho claimed

-Russia, which the Ifchour Party claimed had an ideal form of Government. j AMENDMENT DEFEATED. Association— Copyright. WELLINGTON, This Day. After the telegraph. office closed the debate in ?he House of Representatives on the Imprest Supply Bill was continued by Mr Jordan who censured the Immigration policy of the Government as being; mainly ye- 4 sponsible for unemployment. Tl>« Government had caused wnemnloymcirFdnd faded to deal with it in anything like an adequate manner. For that reason he was nrond to ho associated with the Amendment moved by the Opposition. Discussion, on the amendment then closed, a division being Jaken at 2.30 when the Amendment was 'defeated by 40 votes to 14 only the Labour members and Mr Atmore voting for it. The following pairs' were recorded: for the Amendment; Messrs McCoombs and Veitch. Against the Amendment; Hon) ,T. G. Anderson, Ssr Maui Pamare. The Bill appropriating £2,927,000 then pased its remaining stages. LOCAL AUTHORITIES BILL.

The Prime Minister then moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Empowering (relief of unemployment) Amendment >l3lll. He explained that by the Local) Authorities Empowering (relief ,of unemployment) Act cf 1926 local authorities are empowered to borrow money (without Having taken a poll of the ratepayers) tor public works undertaken iu relief or unemployment by local authorities. The extension, Act of 1927 , provided that nu moneys, shall be, so borrowed after June* 30j 1928, and tne present Bui extends the power to borrow under the principal Act for one year (that is until Julie 30, 1.927*.

By section four of the Imprest Supply Act of 1927, provision, was made for payment out or the Consolidated Fund of a subsidy to local authorities on amounts expended on

public works in relief of unemployment. It was proposed toi 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 V to £300,000. Mis .MoKeen asked the Premier to agree to subsidise Local Bodies who paid full rates of wages on the total amoamt spent and not merely on 9s and 12s per day. Mr. I). G. Sullivan asked that the subsidy be paid on material used on relief works as well as on wage* The Premier said both requests opened up large and difficult questions, hub the Government was anxious to co-operate and these matters would not he lost sight nf. Tlu< Bill then passed its remaining stages without amendment.

The Premier intimated that nrt Tuesday afternoon the usual motions of respect to deceased mem tiers would ho moved nod on Wednesday tho dohate on the Address in Reply would be commenced.

The House rose at 3.35 till Tuesday afternoon.