THE PLACEMENT SCHEME

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3811, 21 September 1936, Page 5

THE PLACEMENT SCHEME

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. GRATIFYING RESULTS ACHIEVED “My last statement regarding the Placement Scheme expressed gratification with the results then achieved. Now, at the end ot four months’ practical operation, I can sincerely say that I am proud of this scheme which the Government introduced as one means of giving effect to its policy of improving the unfortunate lot ot those who, with their dependants, were compelled to suffer a mere existence because of lack of employment. Sc stated the Minister of Labour, (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) to-day when releasing for publication a statement of the direct and indirect benefits accruing as a result of the Placement Scheme, which .represents one of the most important functions of the Employment Division of the Labour Department. “Up to the week ended 12th September, 1936,” continued the Minister, “3521 men were absorbed in permanent private employment, 1305 in casual positions, and 1932 in temporary employment. Of the 3,521 permanently placed, 2702 filled positions in productive industry (primary and secondary), the balance of 819 proceeding to what may be termed unproductive employment. “It is accepted by statistical experts that every 100 workers directly engaged in any kind of primary or secondary industry maintain 108 others in non-productive or only indirectly productive work. “Relating the above statement to the Placement Scheme results, it is found that:

1. The 2702 industrial placements indicate that 2918 additional workers have been placed in subsidiary employment. 2. That the 5620 men thus found employment would be supporting 9900 dependants, based on the census figures for 1926. 3. In addition to permanent placements, 1305 men have been found casual employment and 1932 men placed in temporary positions. These 3237 men would be supporting 5700 dependants. 4. The Placement Scheme, up to the week ended 12/9/36, has therefore been directly or indirectly responsible for giving a reasonable standard of living to 24,457 individuals, as under: (a) Permanently: 5620 men, plus 9900 dependants; (b) Temporarily: 3237 men, plus 5700 dependants.

“Naturally these results have not been achieved without a great deal of planning and effort on the part of my officers, who have without exception applied themselves assiduously but cheerfully to the task of assisting in the industrial rehabilitation or those formerly unemployed, and in most cases dependent on relief benefits. Many harrowing accounts of past hardships experiences could be told, but' since the advent of the Placement Scheme and the improvement of relief conditions, these have been almost entirely overshadowed by the recitals of happiness brought to several thousands ot homes through the direct or indirect beneficial results of that Scheme.

"The co-operation afforded by employers has been most encouraging, while the really liberal and excellent support so readily extended by the Press of the Dominion has contributed very largely to the almost universal public acceptance of the Scheme. To those mentioned above, I offer my appreciative thanks and earnestly appeal for continuance ot their assistance in what I hope all sections of the community will now regard as a measure meriting their active help. “Finally, I would urge every employer to take full advantage of the gratuitous service offered the Scheme includes the p replacement verification of past experience and quality of service rendered: this feature is believed to be novel, and ensures, as far as is reasonably possible, the efficiency and integrity of candidates offered to prospective employers. “The operation of the Scheme is in the hands of officers whose desire to give prompt, efficient, and courteous service will be at once apparent to each employer who visits as I sincerely hope he will any of the 22 placement Offices. I would stress that by the nature ot their organisation, all Placement Offices are inter-linked and each has available an up-to-date record of all classes of labour available from the North Cape to the Bluff, thus assuring mobility of labour to the utmost practical degree.