UNEMPLOYMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 June 1931, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

NO. 5 SCHEME. TO BE CONTINUED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Cabinet has reversed its decision to suspend operations under the No. 5 Unemployment Relief Scheme at the end of this week. The Pi'ime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) announced this afternoon that the Government had given further consideration tb the unemployment problem, and to the numerous representations which had • been made for the continuance of Scheme No. 5.

The Prime Minister stated that although the facts of his previous statement and the reasons which led up to the announcement of the suspension of No. 5 Scheme had in no way been altered, tlie Government had, under the special circumstances, and in view of the wholehearted demand from all parts of the Dominion, decided upon the temporary continuance of the scheme.

One of the first duties of Parliament would be to consider the question of funds for th/3 Unemployment Board, and the Government intended to -bring down legislation at the earliest opportunity in the forthcoming session with that end in view. In the meantime, however, as the result of the earnest representations already referred to, and with a view to relieving the unfortunate position in which many people were placed through lack of employment, the Government had decided upon the continuance of the scheme until such time as Parliament could deal with the problem of additional finance, which, based on the large numbers of unemployed now to be dealt with, was essential. The Government realised, said the Prime Minister, that the responsibility for the stability and increase of the unemployment funds would rest upon Parliament, and as the session would commence within a week, he had every hope that reasonable provision would be made so that be continued.

The Clerk of the Masterton County Council (Mr J. C. D. Maekley) received the following telegram yesterday afternoon from the Prime Minister: “In reply to your telegram regarding unemployment, a public announcement has been made to-day that under the special circumstances the Government have decided upon temporary continuance of Scheme No. 5 until such time as Parliament can deal with the problem of additional finance. —(Signed) G. W. Forbes. ’ ’ Telegrams announcing that the No. 5 Scheme was to be continued meantime were received yesterday by the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan) and by Mr J. R. Hanlon, officer in charge of the local branch of the Labour Department.