"CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 195, 19 August 1927, Page 8

"CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT."

NECESSITY FOR AGITATION. QUESTION OF STREET COLLECTION. -Tin: riuxciiM.c or citAWTY."*

"1 think it i» lo liirji ayitation p»inp in rryard lo thf dirnnic unemployment that exists'in this town and !hroti»hwil the ouuntry,"* dccl*m! Mr. J. Purtrll in «ddm»in; a ftir".3ier mass mwlin;* of ui]rin|ii«ycd, oondurtod <m the t i*ic Square t3ii* morning He tracvd J Ik- c*u*e of i;nmi|t!min< nt in the main lo Ihe (ImortifflctilV immijrration policy, and Mid thai if appliralionf for employment were made at each of Ihe 3.1 unions rrpiiwiloil at tU' Trades lUII, not a single position oould lw procured. "It is n}i to the dlirm of lliiit town to first protest apainst the immigration fwlio - , and to t3i<Goicrnnirnt that it vluiuld find work in the meantime for Uw uncwj<lovod. If llh*p men arc rniiilcl to <"«]iioj-jin>nl., they arc rnlitlrd to employment at a living ivapc." he maintained in commciii'up upon the salaries it was pitijKwj to pav to those engaged on tlic War Memorial relief works. Sf<eakin« on the council's dwifj&n (» allow h street collection to be taken up on hclialf of 13»e unemployed. !« *aid he was opposed to this method of raiting funds. a» it introduced the mindple of charity. However, whrn thx> collection was held it bdiovcd everyone U< support it and make it a hiocims. In replying to a surest ion that union* should strike a levy of 1/ per member to assist tlic unemployed. Vr. I'nrte?] naid that if that were done it would relieve the Got eminent of ii s response hility 1o assist She men «bo w«t« oat of work, andshift the burden on to tlie union*. \\ JjjJe the unions might he in favour of such a scheme, ;t was nje. good tn principle.