UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1932, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY

REDUCTION OF ALLOCATIONS

TREATMENT OF UNEMPLOYED.

ALLEGATION OF DISCOURTESY,

' HOUSE DISCUSSES ESTIMATES.

By Telegraph.-—Dress Association.

Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives to-day went into committee. on the Estimates a,nd the vote of £89,140 fot the Legislative Department was first considered. Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) protested against the manner in which the Labour Department was inquiring into the earnings of the families of relief workers. He said that the Minister should, give the House some information as to the “number of these Labour Department detectives, pimps and spies who are engaged to spy into jibople’s homes, and discover whether they are letting rooms; whether' the wife of an individual' who is receiving a Small amount of unemployment assistance is scrubbing offices in order to get something towards the rates so that the home can be retained, or to earn a few shillings for ■ the purchase of a pair, of shoes.” ■ ; Mr. Lee suggested that some of these agents had; apparently been selected for their- capacity to offend rather than for their tactfulness. He said the position was that immediately some anonymous person wrote to the department thht an individual was earning an .extra half-crown a week one of. the officials was round the back door of the. home, bullying some defenceless woman with the full authority of the Government; Mr. M. J. Savage (Lab., Auckland West) complained, of discourtesy at. the Auckland office of the Labour Department and said that many unemployed were afraid to go to the office... . The Hon. A. Hamilton, replying to Mr.. Savage, said, that attention had' been given to, a previous complaint by the member for Auckland West concerning discourtesy in the Auckland office, and he felt sure that there would not again be the same reason for complaint, Mr. W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manukau): “They treat the unemployed like cattle.”

Mr. Hamilton:. “I have heard coriiplaints about that. We might be able to give, the matter further attention yet.” . .

-REDUCTION OF RELIEF.

Mr. P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) asked for a definite statement whether the report of the contemplated reduction in unemployment relief was correct.

Mr, J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) expressed the opinion that the unemployed problem had assumed such proportions that it might with advantage be referred to a select committee of the House. Mr. Savage asked whether there had been a reduction from twelve to six months in the time seamen were allowed tb undertake relief work -in and around cities before being drafted to the country. He pointed out the advisability of keeping men handy to the ports. The. Leader -of the, Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, appealed for a disclosure of the Government’s intention regarding the future of relief allocations, declaring that if it . were decided to reduce- the-, small ■ amount., now. made, available, to relief workers , a very serious situation, would develop in New 1 Zealand.

MrAH&milfon said the. newspaper reports regarding the intention to reduce allocations 'were correct.. He pointed out that provision had been made fot extra relief during the winter, but if an attempt were made to Continue at this rate they would not be able to meet commitments. There would be a uniform reduction in allocations.

. Replying to, Mr. Savage the Minister said' the period during which, seamen were permitted, to undertake relief work in and around cities had recently been reduced to six months because there had been a good deal of objection from other people. Carpenters, for instance, considered they had an equal claim to this privilege which, it had to be remembered, had not been extended to all sections of the community. . • Mr. Dickie urged: that a London auditor , should; be appointed to the (High Commissioner’s office on the ground that the small New Zealand staff in London was almost on a family basis. He considered it would be cheaper to appoint a London auditor. The legislative vote was passed. The vote of £525,415 for the Internal Affairs Department was also passed. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Forbes said the Customs Acts Amendment Bill, the Pensions Amendment Bill and the Rent Restriction Bill would be taken on Tuesday. The House rose at 5.20 p.m. till 2;30 p.m. on Tuesday. .