AMERICAN UNEMPLOYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 11

AMERICAN UNEMPLOYED.

PLAN FOR RELIEF. , (Specinl to "Star."} SAN FRAXCISCO, October 6. Unemployment in the United States appears to be increasing daily, and Congress is attempting valiantly to cope with the perplexing problem, the latest phase of the subject being the formulation of an emergency programme deeijjned to effect the immediate relief of the nation's idle, variously estimated at from 3,500,000 to nearly' 7,000.000 persons. This programme has been completed by a national conference on un- ' employment, but the sessions were adjourned for a fortnight, when the conference will consider a permanent unemployment policy and suggestions for the return of business and commerce to normal. Meanwhile its committees were biMilv engaged on detail* of these subjects.

XKe conference found the task of meetIng,'tne'unemployment emergency was pjfnnkrily a community one, with the .responsibility of leadership and its solut^on- resting on mayors. Federal, State, «ed -municipal aid, however, was urged. IVrtieufar reference was made by the conference to the connection between and the solution of the country's economic questions.

• "Duriny the period of drastic economic readjustment through which we are now piaeinff," ihe emergency programme said, "the continued efforts of anyone to profit bjytmd the requirements of safe business or economic consistency should •bi. "condemned. One of the important obstacles,to a.resumption of normal bueiDM9 activity will be removed as prices .rtech replacement values in terms of efficient producing- and distributing cost, ftne reasonable-profit. We therefore Ijrongly urge all manufacturers and wholesaler? who may not have adopted tfck policy to do so, but it is essential te,.the success of these measures when fit into effect that retail prices shall WJPPt'y reflect the price adjustment •I the producer, manufacturer, and the •hotelier. When these principles have •wM recognised and the recommenda<JM»complied with we are confident that tie public will increase their purchases, nerrty increasing the operations of the ■ills, factories, and transportation comfnm, and consequently reducing the ■ember of unemployed/ •:■ CONFERENCE PLANS. Specific recommendations adopted by tjto conference for emergency relief were": Emergency committees, representing the Ttriong elements of communities to wUMish public employment agencies and «p-ordinate the distributing of work; jnblkttion by the committee of the num•ers dependent upon them for employtent, and the prevention of unco-ordi-Bated- solicitation of funds; private flouees, hotels, offices, etc., to contribute by' doing their repaire, cleaning, and wternmtione during the winter instead of in;toe spring when employment would be fflore plentiful; municipalities to expand tneir.. school, street, sewerage, repair work,- and public buildings to the fullest •xtent compatible with existing circumManees. "As indicating the present fav•OTMble circumstances the conference "qted'that over 700,000.000d0l of municipal bonds, the largest amount in hisJory M had been sold in 1921; governors M-unite., all State ajrenciea in support of and expedite construction of Mads, State buildings, etc.; Federal JlUthorities to expedite the erection of RUbiic buildings, and maintenance and "tension of highways." 'd* Xew Y «"-k the Salvation Army has onmd to employ every jobless man who »PPeai*, and pay him six shillings a day W undertake a systematic search for sork_ under its direction. Business men are plan and fur?£™f? the money. Each man "hired" by «!- "? y is given a card lia ting several ; .£? S - ° factorie a in his particular line, .•nd.iDstructed to call on them and apply ;*«iT ' Ea6h evenin S he "turns his and is paid l.oOdol. Attempts •Tp.bemg made by fiovernment officials to the people, but the absence of £one doe e not appease the unemployed, strdagly object to charity, and ;Bnn!y state they want work instead. ■SSOjjWnt situation is undoubtedly a • most trymg one for the authorities.

:?;._■."■ LABOUR BLAMED. for industrial depression and has been laid at the door Jx^ TgaJ ,abour b - v Senator Knute ■«eiaon, of Mjnnesota (Republican), in a attack in the U.S. Senate upon the ictat'Til" 8 ° f America - Senator Nelson Ctarged that Labour's ref,. B al to accept wa?es was the chief obstacle to ■•n'Jndustrial and business revival He at the railway 'H ?m\? n t eX P reseed th « opinion that SH* •?" We " f ° r them to cari 7 o»t ««L nke / hreats in order that the .M;lway controversy might be brought : ae 8 V- ° and defin >tel.Y settled. "tCC T S j • ? enator warmly praised of Judge Landis re- & •» the building trade, in