PLANS TO MEET DIFFICULTIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20027, 7 February 1935, Page 9

PLANS TO MEET DIFFICULTIES

STATE ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYED PROMISE TO REMOVE HARDSHIPS British Official Wireless (Received February 6. 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 5. Criticisms of the manner in which the newly-instituted Unemployment Assistance Board operated was the subject of a statement by the Minister of Labour (Major Oliver Stanley) in the House of Commons). He said he recognised that these criticisms, which were not confined to any one Party, as to the manner the regulations were working out in practice, were not without some justification. The dissatisfaction and grievances were largely due to rigidity and other mistakes inherent in the inception of a new gigantic scheme. The Board was considering the situation and had issued immediate instructions, which would eliminate the temporary danger of individual hardships. They were dealing, not with the tangible difficulties of business and finance, but with men and women, and they could not allow chance hardships to continue while the situation was being examined. The statement was welcomed by all Parties, though several Labour members warned the Government not to expect the agitation wholly to cease. They demanded the elimination of the basis of family assessments.