UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 419, 10 November 1930, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

FIFTY-SIX NOMINATIONS MINISTER TO RECOMMEND FIVE. A total of 5*6 nominations was received by the Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, yesterday for positions on the Unemployment Board constituted under the Unemployment Act of this year. Of these no fewer than 40 were proposed by workers’ organisations. Seven persons were nominated by representatives of primary industries, two by secondary -industrial interests, and seven by the returned soldiers of the Dominion. From these 56 nominations the Minister will recommend five names to the Governor-General for favourable consideration, and from the number of nominations it appears that his task will not be a light one. Workers’ Representatives. The following nominations were made by representatives of employees’ organisations:— Baker, Charles Forbes, Christchurch. Bayard, William Henry, Christchurch. Bloodworth, Thomas, Auckland. Brindle, Thomas, Wellington. Bryant, Alfred J-, Lower Hutt Burns. V. J. Petone. Bromley, Walter, Wellington. Clark, H. B. Auckland. Clayton, Ernest, Dunedin. Cornwell, F. D., Wellington. Edmund, L. C, Ohai. Fleming, J.. Wellington. Heyes, G-eorgc, Palmerston North. Hunter, Hiram, Christchurch. Johns, Andrew, Wellington. Maddison, W., Wellington. McKenzie, P.. Wellington. Mason, 0., Auckland. Mcßrine, 0., .Auckland. McGregor, D. S., Invercargill. Mcllvride, L., Wellington. McKenzie, J. H., Wellington. Millar. F. W., Wellington. Mourant, H. P., Wellington. Newton, E. 8., Wellington. O’Byrne, T., Invercargill. O’Donnell, 8., Dunedin. Parnell, H. W., Auckland. Pcarle. F. E„ Christchurch. Pine, W., Dunedin. Read. J., Wellington. Rushbridge. H. R., Christchurch. Simpson, W., Wellington. Smith, T. G., Wellington. Reardon. M. J., Wellington. Skinner, W. G.. Auckland. Smith, J. H., Wellington. Thurston, G. T., Christchurch. Tongue, A E., Christchurch. Wollcr, P. E., Wellington. Employers’ Nominees Primary producers nominated the following:— Arnold. Edgar, Tapanui. Broad, E. L., Tauranga. Cullen F- E.. Maungatoroto. Fowler, A. Eq Wellington. McKay, J. S., Tnaha. Moore, P. J., Kairanga. Wrathall, R. T.. Mangonui Nominations by secondary industry interests wore: — Edwards, E. H., Wellington. Hutchison F L., Christchurch. Returned soldiers’ organisations nominated the following:— Burdekin, H. 8., Wellington. Hagedorn, A. E., Westport. Hall, G. T., Wellington. Leadley. W. E., Christchurch. McCrae, J., Dunedin. Richardson, G. S., Auckland. Wilkinson, L. R., Tauranga.

Constitution of Board. . The names submitted will receive the careful consideration of the Minister and his final choice will be made as soon as possible. The sum of £lOO,000 has already been granted to the Board by Parliament in order to enable it to commence operations without waiting for funds which will accrue from the payment of the annual levy, the first instalment of which must be paid by all males over the age of twenty by December 1. According to the terms of the Act the Minister who for the moment is charged with its administration will be chairman of the Board. Two members will be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister, and one of these will be ( deputy-chairman. This means that the Government of the day will be assured of a representation of three, though the present Minister of Labour has insisted that it shall not be regarded as a political machine, but as a body representative of all interests, and working for the solution of the unemployment problem. One member will be appointed from among the nominees of employers in the primary industries, and another from the nominees of secondary industry employers’ organisations. Forty nominations have been made by the workers of the Dominion, but only two members have to be selected from these. The opinion has been expressed that the workers’ organisations would have been well advised to have come to some agreement upon the question of representation for, as it is, it will be practically impossible to satisfy all sections. The eighth member of the Board will represent the returned soldiers. Widespread Functions. Every effort is being made by the Government to commence the operations of the Board as soon as its personnel has been approved by the GovernorGeneral. Once the Board is definitely formed it will operate of its own accord, but the ground is being cleared for it, and when the formation is complete it should be able to start work with a minimum of delay. Its functions are widespread, and they extend considerably beyond the first broad statement in the Act setting out the goal for which it is expected to aim. This section states that the object of the Board shall be first “to make arrangements with employers or with prospective employers for the employment of persons who arc out of employment.” In addition the Board will be called

upon to take what stops it considers necessary to promote primary and secondary industries in order to bring about an increase in the number of workers in them. This alone will be a big task. The Board will also undertake the payment of sustenance allowances out of the unemployment fund. Subsidiary functions of the Board arc equally important, and in the main they relate to the encouragement of industry, co-operation between State Departments, the undertaking of vocational training, and the making of grants, all for the purpose of promoting employment.