UNEMPLOYMENT.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17971, 21 August 1930, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

A DESPERATE STAGE. Govt. Planning Relief. CIRCULAR TO LOCAL BODIES. SUBSIDY OF £2 FOR £1 GIVEN. (Special to Star.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. According to a statement by the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Cabinet Unemployment Committee, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, is busily engaged at present in mapping out a programme of work for the unemployed to tide them and their families over the period between moAv and the passing of the Unemployment Bill. As much speed as possible is being made with the consideration of the Bill by the Select Committee to which it was referred. I The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, asked the Prime Minister: — (1) Whether, in order that immediate steps might be taken to provide employment, or failing that, a measure of sustenance, for unemployed workers in the interval which must elapse before the Unemployment Bill comes into operation, he would at once move to release from their ordinary Parliament duties the I members of the Select Committee specially set up to report to Cabinet in that connection. (2) Whether he Avould place, both the advice and machinery of State Departments at the service of the

committee during the course of its deliberations. (3) Whether he would give the [ House an assurance i that legislative provision Avould be made before his departure from New Zealand for Avhatever finance was necessary to carry out the practical recommendations of the committee. (4) Whether he would endeaA r our to have the report of the Select Committee on the Unemployment Bill tabled before the end of the present Aveek, so that the Bill might be put through all its stages in the shortest period possible. “Definite information is available,” said Mr Holland, “to the effect that the position affecting unemployment hjas reached a desperate stage, particularly in the larger

centres of population, where many families, because their breadwinners have no work, are without the means to procure sufficient food and ing“ln view of the undertaking given to permit the Prime Minister to attend the Imperial Conference, whatever Parliamentary action is neces- [ sary to ensure that the families of unemployed men will not be left unprovided for pending the passing of the Unemployment Bill must be taken before the Prime Minister’s departure.” “The Government is fully alive to the gravity of the position,” repHed the Prime Minister, “and the Cabinet Committee is mapping out work for the future to be put through the Public Works, the Forestry and the Lands Departments to keep the largest number of men possible in occupation during the next few months. “The Unemployment Bill is now

before a committee of this House, and I have asked it to deal with it without delay, so that it may be returned to the House and put on to the Statute Book as soon as possible. “Power will be given in the Bill to permit of an advance being made in anticipation of the revenue from the proposed levy, to allow of some of its powers being put into operation immediately after the Bill has been p&ssed. “Local bodies are being circularised, drawing attention to the Government’s subsidy of £2 for £1 for labour costs of any relief work that is put in hand, and asking them to co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent in their power. The Government will also find £2 for £1 of the labour costs of any relief work carried out by public subscription, which should encourage the assistance of private citizens in dealing with the present serious unemployment position. “The Select Committee which has been set up by the House will be

asked to make recommendations to the Government in regard to further avenues of relief work, and the facilitating of the employment of men out of work.”