AGY-4162 | Unemployment Relief Council

Full description

The Council for the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment was established under the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act, 1930 (Act No.34, 1930). The Council consisted of eight members including the Colonial Treasurer, Minister for Labour and Industry and five other members appointed by the Governor. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman were appointed by the Governor. (1)

The meetings of the Council were convened by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman at the request of three of the members. The Chairman did not normally vote at meetings although he possessed the right to a casting vote if the vote was equal. Four members of the Council constituted a quorum. (2)

The role of the Council was to consider means for the prevention and relief of unemployment including the following:
Formulating schemes for absorbing the unemployed into public works or private enterprises;
Investigating schemes for the relief of unemployment including distribution of work within an industry and retraining those for whom suitable work could not be found;
Recommending expenditure from the Unemployment Fund on approved works including advancing money to municipalities and shires or other public bodies, or for the improvement of productivity in any business;
Entering agreements with municipalities or shires or other public bodies for carrying out schemes for the relief of unemployment;
Forming committees of its members to perform a specified function;
Reporting to the Governor on the work of the Council or responding to questions concerning unemployment relief as referred by the Governor; and
Exercising any other power relating to the relief of unemployment. (3) The Council could confer with Advisory Committees in particular industries that were set up by the Governor to address employment issues in that industry (4) Each month the Colonial Treasurer was to advise the Council the budget for employment relief, and the Council was not to exceed the budget. (5) . The Minister determined the working conditions including hours and wages when the Governor approved a work to be for unemployment relief (usually on the recommendation of the Council or the Minister). (6)

The following bodies were required to co-operate with the Council:
The State Labour Exchanges were to provide the Council with information relating to unemployment when requested; and
Municipalities and Shires were to furnish information relating to employment-creating projects, and the extent of unemployment within their boundaries. (7) Initially the Council was to cease on 30 June 1931. (8)

By proclamation on 27 June 1930 the Council was declared to be responsible to the Minister for Labour and Industry. (9) The nominated members of the Council were advised in the NSW Government Gazette on 7 July, 1930 (10) and the Hon. B.S.B. Stevens (Colonial Treasurer) and The Hon. E.H. Farrar (Minister for Labour and Industry were appointed Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively (11) Mr C.W.O. Tye was appointed Secretary and Executive Officer of the Council also effective from 10 July, 1930 by which time the Council had become known as the Unemployment Relief Council. (12)

In operation the constitution of the Council came to include a third minister and the four other members representing particular interests viz — The Grazier’s Association, Manufacturing Interests, Primary Producing Interests, and Employers. (13) The staff included a technical adviser in 1933 substituted by an engineer the following year, and a small support staff. On-going or short- term committees that included co-opted members were formed to advise concerning various projects. The ongoing committees included the Advances to Settlers Board; the Dairy Promotion Board; Building Relief Committee; and the Women’s Girls’ and Boys’ Employment Committee. (14)

The following are some of the projects supported by the Council:

Primary industry advances were made to settlers for permanent improvements to holdings, extermination of rabbits and the promotion of the dairy Industry;
Employment in the building trades assistance was assisted by finance for repair, renovation, painting and making additions to privately owned buildings;
Extensive public works schemes commenced including road building, sewerage, water supply and drainage works, building swimming baths, and repairing hospital and school buildings;
Funds were made available to assist with the promotion of women’s, girls’ and boys’ employment;
and Assistance was available for prospecting, mine development and afforestation. (15)

The period of operation of the Council was extended as follows:
to 30 June 1932 by the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act (Amendment) Act, 1931 (Act No. 26, 1931) (16)
to 30 June 1933 by the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Further Amendment) Act, 1932 (Act No. 15, 1932) (17) and
to 30 June 1935 with an extension of up to four months by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette by the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1934 (Act No. 25, 1934) (18) and
to 31 October 1935 by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette (19) to 30 June 1936 by the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1935 and (Act No. 46, 1935 (20) to 30 June 1937 by the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1936 (Act No 45, 1936). (21)

It would appear that the Council ceased to operate on or before 30 June 1937.

Endnotes
1. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act, 1930 s.4.
2. Ibid. s.5.
3. Ibid. s.6.
4. Ibid. s.7.
5. Ibid. s.8.
6. Ibid. s.9
7. Ibid. s.10
8. Ibid. s.11
9. NSW Government Gazette No.82 27 June 1930, p.2497.
10. NSW Government Gazette No.88, 7 July 1930, p.2703.
11. NSW Government Gazette No.89, 10 July 1930, p.2745.
12. NSW Government Gazette No.145, 26 September 1930, p.3854.
13. Unemployment Relief Council Annual Reports for the years ended 30 June 1933 and 30 June 1935 p.6.
14. Unemployment Relief Council Annual Report, for the year ended 30 June 1933, p.17.
15. Ibid., pp.8-15.
16. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act (Amendment) Act, 1931 s.2(a).
17. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Further Amendment) Act, 1932 s. 2(a).
18. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1934 s. 2.11 (1) -(2).
19. NSW Government Gazette No.118, 21 June 1935, p.2484.
20. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1935 s.2.
21. Prevention and Relief of Unemployment (Amendment) Act, 1936 s.2.