UNEMPLOYMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 4, 25 July 1930, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

DEBATE H THE HOUSE OPINIONS AS TO CAUSES. WELLINGTON, duly WWhen tiie House met this afternoon tile debate on the Unemployment Bill was resumed. -Mr lii. d. Howard (Christchurch South), continuing, said the Uoverr» meat Statistician ’s figures showed that employment in various industries hud not increased during the last few years while, at the same time, many immigrants from tin' Old Country bad been brought hero without work being available for them in the industries to which they had been accustomed. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmnnt) stated tlmt the present, was the first, occasion on which workers had been asked to boar direct taxation, and it gave them an example of what others had to pay to. man.y years. He considered that tiie Arbitration Court awards were responsible for unemployment in some instances While some men enjoyed the benefits of awards, others were prevented from getting work at all. because employers could not economically carry out all the conditions. Mr Wilkinson declared that the root causes of unemployment should be investigated.

.Mr 8. G. 8111-1 h (New Plymouth): The Board will do that. Mr Wilkinson: The Minister, apparently, has unlimited fa : tli in boards. I have not. This countrfy is overridden by boards. There tire boards to the right of us; boards to the left of us; boards every where! Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchturch East): We’re board (bored) stiff! laughter, Mr A. Harris (Waitomata) denied that the Reform Party’s immigration policy had been responsible, for unemployment. and said that it was interesting to recall that, since the immigration policy had ceased, the unemployment situation had become worse. Mr 11. E. Holland (Buller): Does that, mean the position might have been better had the immigration policy been continued? Mr Harris said he believed the position might not have been so bad. The bulbing trade, at least, had suffered from cessation of the policy. Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) declared his faith in New Zealand industries to absorb all the unemployed. The Bill would be quite unnecessary if there was a proper development policy applied to all Dmirnion industry. He referred, particularly to the timber industry, which ho believed could be expanded greatly under suitable legislation. In Westland alone over 500 more men could be put, on the land under advantageous conditions. Land Settlement the Remedy. Mr H. G. Dickie (Patea) said land settlement was, in his opinion, the only permanent solution of unemployment. The greatest difficulty in the way of keeping people on the land was the standard of life which was forced upon the farmer. Tl* believed every man should be placed on his own allotmcnt, even if he had to be subsidised, and should be allowed to work out his own salvation

Mr L. Lye (Waikato) said that white he had always hold that it whs nor tho duty of the State to provide standard rates of pay for unemployed men it was thn duty of tho community to provide them with sustenance. Ho agreed that harsh awards wore a contributory factor towards unemployment. He behoved that awards should be framed after duo consideration of the ability of the individual to earn and the ability of the industry to pay.. He thought that before calling on the man with a very small wage to pay 30s a year towards an unemployment fund (lie Government should look to rdhei sources. Ho suggested that amusements and the totalisator could bo taxod more than at present, also foreign films mid. possibly, income tax could be called on to contribute to the fund. He hoped the Budget would contain some such proposals. The people who were to pay £5 to s ,3 e a football match and 30s for a boxing match, shoo'd not be unwilling to help tho unemph vod. Mr C H. Chapman (Wellington North'' said that unemployment existed in both low-wage and high-wage countries It was not due to Arbitration Court awards, but to other factors altogether. The main cause was that those who could give employment would not do so under present: circumstances because they feared they might not get as much profit as they des : red. The debate was adiourned and tho House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. TIMBER GROWERS OBJECT. WELLINGTON, .Inly L>4. Exemption from unemployment taxation was asked for by a deputation from the Timber Growers’ Association which waited upon the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. 1-1. A. Bansome to-day. Members pointed out that the timber growers themselves were relieving unemployment. Iu reply the Minislei said that, while lie .odd not commit 1 lie Government on a policy matter, he would give them any assistance he could.