“Young Man with Advanced Ideas!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 13

“Young Man with Advanced Ideas!”

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Professor Criticised UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE When Professor Belshaw, of Auckland University College, addressed the Rotary Club some time ago on unemployment insurance, he confessed to-day he was characterised by one listener —not to his face—as “a young man with a few advanced ideas!”

“If that is so, then I will now give you a few advanced ideas.** declared the professor, when he related the incident at today’s luncheon of the Auckland Provincial Employers Association- His theme was agair insurance againsi unemployment, s measure of whicl Dr. Belshaw is *

stalwart sup porter. Mr. J. S. Dawes acting - presiden. presided over jlarge attendant:* at the Chamber ol Commerce rooms. Although there might he i difficulties in New Zealand, admitted the speaker, that was certainly no excuse for remaining passive on the question. There was no necessity to rush, without thought, into this or any particular system. Rather would Dr Belshaw see a committee of experts appointed to go thoroughly into the question of unemployed insurance and carefully consider it from every angle. It was impossible, he said, to abolish unemployment- It was certain that there would be similar periods or depression in New Zealand in the future. No policy was likely to remove unemployment altogether. “Some people are therefore inclined to scoff at unemployment insurance, because it is not a complete cure for the ill.” Describing unemployment Insurance in England, Professor Belshaw was not necessarily inclined to the view that a similar system was the best for New Zealand. In 1920. he pointed out. 12.000.000 British workers had benefited; no less a sum than £53,000.000 had been distributed in benefits. Unemployment Insurance was not “a wild attempt.” he insisted, to relieve distress, which would react adversely on the national welfare. “Although I am not quite clear what a ‘dole’ is. I believe that it is intended to convey a sneer!” Unemployment insurance had nothing at all to do with poor law relief. It was a definite insurance against a risk which could be measured. It was no more a dole than was free education, or schemes for superannu- : ation.