§ Mr. H. GRAYasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the grievance of the agricultural labourers who, when they are given relief work by the district council not of a definite agricultural character, become liable for unemployment insurance under a ruling given by the Minister of Labour; and whether he is aware that the relief work seldom continues sufficiently long to enable them to benefit under the insurance scheme, which entails a heavy expense both on district councils and the men concerned without benefit to either?
§ Sir M. BARLOWContributions are payable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in respect of every person employed in insurable work. I have no power to exclude from this statutory obligation men who are engaged on relief work which is of an insurable character, even though the employment may be of short duration.