UNEMPLOYMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19661, 1 December 1933, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

POLICY OF BOARD CRITICISED MR J. O’BRIEN’S THREAT By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 30. Speaking on the formal motion to enable the discussion of the Estimates in the House this evening, Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab. Avon) criticised the Unemployment Board’s policy especially with respect to single men’s camps. Mr J. O’Brien (Lab. Westland) strongly criticised the reduction in the rates of relief pay, and said that in Westland the reductions had in some cases amounted to as much as 53 per cent. “Unless these conditions are altered,” he said, “I am going to take steps that may compel me to leave this House, but I would rather be out of this House than remain in it and see rates of relief pay like these continuing to operate.” Continuing, Mr O’Brien said it was scandalous that men should be asked to accept starvation rates. Mr Speaker: You must not employ that term. Mr O'Brien: I am applying it to those who fix these rates of pay. I don’t care where they come from. Mr Speaker: Order. I must remind you that those words must not be applied to any member of this House. Mr O’Brien: I just feel this way on the matter. Mr Speaker: Order. Mr R. Semple (Lab. Wellington East): Stick to your guns. Mr O’Brien: I wish to make it perfectly clear that these are starvation rates. If a member of the House is responsible for them I am not withdrawing my words. Mr Speaker: Will you clear up the point as to whether you are referring to a member of the House? Mr O'Brien: lam not referring to any member of the House in particular. Mr Speaker: If you are applying those remarks to any member of the House you must withdraw them. Mr O’Brien: I don't feel like withdrawing, Sir. Mr Speaker: I must ask you to withdraw. I know you are speaking with great personal feeling, but the rules of the House forbid that term to be applied to any member. Mr O’Brien: I don't wish to disobey your ruling, sir. I don’t wish to attribute these conditions to any member of the Government, but I am so angry Mr Speaker: I think you had better withdraw any suggestion that you are referring to any member of the House. Mr O’Brien: I am not applying these w’ords to any particular member. Mr Speaker: Or to any member? Mr O’Brien: Yes, I will say that.

The Contract System. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Lab. Christchurch East) complained of the contract system which had been imposed on the unemployed declaring that it was an attempt to get more work out of the men for the same money. Mr Semple charged the Government with having failed to tackle the problem of unemployment, and said that not one single Act had been passed this session to alleviate distress. No progress was made with the Estimates to-day, Labour members continuing to discuss unemployment until the time arrived for the adjournment of the House at midnight. Mr Speaker explained that under the Standing Orders the House would go into committee to deal with the Estimates to-morrow without the usual formal motion being submitted to the House. It would not be possible to resume the debate on the question.