HEALTHY STATE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 177, 22 February 1933, Page 5

HEALTHY STATE

Unemployment Fund PROSPECTS FOR WINTER ''resa Association—Copyright ~: 'Wellington, Today.—An assurance that the Unemployed Fund was in a healthy position, and that it was hoped to get through the coming winter without reducing relief allocations to local bodies, was given by the Minister of Hon. A. Hamilton, in reply to a question by Mr, W. A. Veitch (Government, Wanpanui), in the House, of Representatives yesterday.

j 1 Mr;.Veitch asked the Minister whei ther, in view of the anxiety of men ! who had to provide for themselves and families during the winter, the Minister would make a complete statement upon the condition of the unemployment funds in order to let local bodies know what measure of relief thev would have to shoulder. The Minister said that, realising .unemployment might be more difficult :ln the winter, the board had been endeavouring to conserve its funds. It had been anticipated that registrations, especially in the country districts, would decline during summer months, and that it would have be j ,n possible to lay aside some of the funds for the* future. However, registrations had not decreased to anything like the extent expected, the ' result being that the number reiving on assistance from the Unemlploy- ■ ment Fund today was very large. The board was now practically living up to its income. . As; soon as the session was over he intended to investigate the position of the fund in detail, with the object ■of making a statement. The position of the fund was satisfactory, there still being a cash balance, but. in view of the commitments it would be difficult to analyse the fund without creating misunderstandings at the hloment. It was hoped • that the present allocations could be maintained during the winter. Mr. P. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South): Even with the increased registrations ? The Minister: We hope there will not be any. We hope the registrations will go down a little during the remainder of the summer. We realise the value of the local help being given, and we will be pleased to teil local bodies as soon as we can what , we want them to do during the com- j ing winter. ,