TROUBLE BREWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 25, 31 January 1927, Page 5

TROUBLE BREWING.

UNEMPLOYMENT AT ITS HEIGHT.

IMMIGRATION POLICY CRITICISED. DRASTIC ACTION THREATENED.

"As far as unemployment is concerned, it appears to me that the Ministers of the Crown do not really realise the position, and they are taking no methods of co-ordination amongst themselves to meet the situation. Each particular Minister appears to be attending to his own Departmental work, and the unemployed can take care of themselves. The position is that the rate-

payers cannot go 011 finding the money to give the necessary relief. It is for the Government to realise their responsibilities in this matter, and until that is done I don't think that we can get any further. Some employers are also to blame. Why, it was only the other day that I saw an advertisement in the local papers for a number of flax workers, and it was stated that only Hindus need apply." These remarks were made at a special meeting of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee this morning by Mr. E. Phelan.

In the absence of his Worship, who was attending another function, Mr. A. Spencer, president of the Auckland Employers' Association, occupied the chair.

In opening the meeting, the chairman said that, owing to the acute position of unemployment in the city at this particular time of the year, it had been decided to call the committee together for the purpose of endeavouring to find some solution of the difficulties. "Here we are in the middle of summer, and just as many, men are out of work now as in the winter months. The position is extraordinary." He went on to state that the number of men placed in work during the period at which the Unemployment Relief Committee had been formed amounted to 243-3. On the books of the Labour Department at noon today there were 5(38 men waiting for work. ~

Some Telling Figures. Mr. Oakley Browne said that his figures were that approximately 200 shop assistants, 200 engineers, 200 carpenters, and over 200 returned soldiers were to-day looking for jobs. A total of 1400 approximately were out of work, but to this should be added 400 timber workers who were only working four days a week or less. It was pointed out by the speaker that the Labour Department could not make work, although it had endeavoured to get the best results possible.

The assistant town clerk (Mr. Melling) read extracts from a statement bv Mr. Buckleton, of the Bank of NewZealand, in which it had been suggested that the D-.-rence Department supply tents for groups of workers, and camp them in the vicinity of farms which would be requiring labour. A delegate stated that the scheme might be all very well in theorv, but no assurance could be gor. from * farmers that work would be found for the«e unemployed.

The Chairman: First get hold of farmers, and get them to let the committee know what work could be found. In referring to the shortage of labour amongst the timber workers, Mr E Phelan, secretary of the Timber Workers' Lmon. said that over 100 men who uere employed in a Government mill had been given notice that it would close down on March 31. He went on to say that millions of feet of timber suitable for building purposes were at present standing in the mill yards, and no endeavour was beinsr made to put it on the market. Touching on the question of immigration, the speaker said that it was not a fair thing to bring out these people, with no work, no homes and no prospects ahead of them. Tt was not doing' the right thing bv the British nation, nor yet by New Zealand.

To Impress the Duke. I can say without wishing to be an alarmist that there is serious discontent amongst the workers of Auckland, and that in near future it is more than likely that an industrial upheaval will take place in order to show the Government that they must do something to alleviate this distress," said Mr. Phelan. "It is held by these workers that the Government should be forced to stop immigration and take steps to provide work for the people here. As a matter of fact it is quite probable that a demonstration will take place during the visit of the Duke of York, but I hope that such a contingency will not be allowed to happen."

Mr. Browne, in referring to the fact that 2000 workers had been placed in work since the advent of the committee asked what had been done for the men -till out of work. He paid a special tribute to the officials of the Labour Department who were endeavouring to find employment, but nointed out 'that there were hundreds of men not registering at official bureaus, but with their own unions. He did not wonder that the meeting was not fully representative °"f the official committee. This was probably on account of the scant-* courtesy of the Minister of Labour at a recent conference with the citizens' unemployment committee.

Concerning Immigration. He moved: •'That the Government bt> requested to set tip an expert committee to discover ""hat effect the stream of immigration has on unemployment and the labour market."'

The Chairman: We all want people out here, but the Government is not making provision for them. Again, they are not bringing out the class. It is known that some undesirables have been brought out here and have had to be sent back. The Government has no land pcdicy and apparently it does not wish to have one. I heartily support the resolution. I believe in immigration, but not under the present conditions. The resolution, which was seconded by Mr. E. Phelan, was carried unanimously. It was mentioned that the Patriotic Association was doing its best to alleviate distress in the city, but it had been found that it could not carry on the work. The Returned Soldiers' Association had also endeavoured to assist, but the Poppy Day funds had been exhausted.

Mr. Slaughter, officer in charge of the Department of Labour, mentioned that the unemployed in Christchurch had been divided into two classes. A and B. He suggested that particulars should be obtained concerning the working of the system and it was agreed to do so. Auckland the Worst Off. A statement- was made that unemployment in Auckland was 50 per cent worse than it was down South. A further resolution was carried unanimously to the effect that official figures be obtained from all union secretaries of the number of unemployed, these figures to be submitted to a special meeting of the committee, which will be held on Monday next to receive further information and formulate a future policy. On the motion of Mr. E. Phelan, seconded by Mr. Oakley Browne, the following resolution was carried: '"That this committee urge all local bodies anticipating raising loans or who had raised loans to proceed with reproductive works." Speaking to the various resolutions, the Rev. Jasper Calder said that in his opinion they were reasonable. They had heard of these matters before and it was only making the representations stronger. He went on to say that the committee and social workers were terribly handicapped, but what could they do? "It's not that we are unwilling, but under present conditions we are unable to do anything. The Government must be made to move."