UNEMPLOYED DEPUTATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 215, 9 September 1921, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED DEPUTATION.

WANT WORK FOR AIJL. IMPRACTICABLE, .SAYS MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A deputation from the Alliance of Labour Unemployment Conference met Ministers to-day. Those present were: Sir Francis Bell, the Hon. W. D. Nosworthy, Sir R. H. RhodeF, and the Hon. Downie Stewart. The speakers were Mr. Mack (chairman of the Alliance of Labour), Mr. Young (secretary of the Seamen's Union), Mr. Armstrong (of Christchurch). The deputation said assisted immigration was resulting in increased unemployment. Suggestions made were that unemployment bureaux should be opened everywhere in the country, and that upon registration each man should be given useful employment or an unemployment, wage. To finance this the deputation suggested a betterment tax. a land tax, leiJy on accumulated capital, and the establishment of a State Bank. Mr. Armstrong suggested reduced hours. Sir Francis Bell expressed disappointment that the deputation had not advanced any helpful suggestion for dealing with the present position. He outlined what the Government had done in maintaining public works and keeping men in the Public Service to prevent unemployment. He did not admit it was the business of the Government to provide employment for all the community. The evidence the Government had was that unemployment was very little above normal. That was due to the fact that local bodies throughout the country had obtained funds from the State Advances Office with which to carry on works employing a great amount of labour. He denied that any immigrants were being , brought out except those for whom employment and accommodation was guaranteed by friends here. The greater number of these had been nominated and had paid their passages. For years the Imperial Government, at the -request of the New Zealand Government, hail granted free ex-service passages to men and families for whom work and accommodation were guaranteed.