UNEMPLOYED RELIEF BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1930, Page 7

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF BILL

THE AGE FOR REGISTRATION y.; w REPRESENTATION OF WORKERS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Consideration of the Unemployment Bill in committee was resumed in the House of Representatives to-night. Ine exemptions clause was passed without discussion. Mr. F.- Waite suggested the age lor compulsory should be 21, which was the age at which everyone had to register for electoral purposes. It would appear the administration expenses could be reduced in this nianner. Mr. M. J. Savage contended it was important to find work for all boys over 16, and in his opinion the registration age should be 16. The Hon. S. G. Smith said the Government had decided to fix the age at 20 after very careful consideration. He pointed out that the board would endeavour to provide employment for everybody, both over and under the registration age. / Mr. R. McKeen moved that the age should be reduced to I'6, but the amendment was ruled out of order on the ground that it would involve an appropriation to cover the cost of printing the necessary additional registration cards. , / Mr. Savage said there seemed to be a general feeling in favour of reducing the age and he therefore moved that consideration of the clause be postponed to give the Government an opportunity of reconsidering the registration age. . " Mr. A. M. Samuel said he did not propose to vote for the amendment, which*/ would further delay the passage of the measure. He had been assured the. Minister could not accede to reducing the age. The amendment was rejected on a division by 47 votes to 20 and the clause was passed. The Minister accepted an amendment moved by Mr. J. A. Young fixing the penalty for failure to register at not exceeding £5O (instead of not exceeding £109). The amendment was adopted and the clause was passed in this form.

An amendment moved by Mr. P. Fraser seeking to increase the number of workers’ representatives on the board from two to four was ruled out oPorder on the ground that it involved an appropriation. Mr. W. E. Barnard pointed out that the workers would have only two representatives on a board of eight. He therefore moved that the number of members to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister should be reduced from two to one, thereby increasing the workers’ proportionate represenate representation to two in seven. The amendment was rejected, by 46 votes to 20 and the clause was ‘passed. Progress was reported and the House rose at 10.30 p.m. till 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.