PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1934, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. , - All of yesterday’s sitting in tlie House of Representatives was occupied jn a discussion on unemployment which [took place on the introductory stage of t-syjj’ Unemployment Amendment Act sponsored by Mr D. G. Sulivan (Lab., Avon). This measure aims at the abolition of the Unemployment Board and the payment of sustenance on the scale provided for in the original unemployment legislation. The unemployment situation existing in Christchurch received considerable attention in the early stages of the debate, but in the remarks of subsequent speakers the general problem of unemployment was brought under review. Actually the debate should have finished at the luncheon adjournment in order that the House might proceed with the orders of the day on resum»~in the afternoon. The Prime Minr, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, had indicated, however, that lie had no objection to the debate continuing in the afternoon if that were the wish of members. A succession of speakers from all sides of the House kept the discussion going throughout the day, with the result that the week-end adjournment was taken without the Bill having reached its first reading. Government speakers included the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and the Minister of Employment, Hon. Adam Hamilton. Mr Ransom’s remarks were confined to a defence of his department against allegations by Mr R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East) in connection with the wages paid for the construction of cottages on the Onepu block in the Bay of Plenty. Although Mr Hamilton did not make his appearance in the House until the late afternoon he replied to much of the criticism directed at the policy of the Unemployment Board.