WINTER UNEMPLOYMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 266, 9 November 1928, Page 12

WINTER UNEMPLOYMENT.

SIR JOSEPH'S PROPHECY. PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENT. I (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday. He, must have been "extravagant and outrageous," were the terms used by the Prime Minister when describing Sir Joseph Ward's Christchurch prediction about the unemployment situation next winter if the Reform Government remains in power. Mr. Ooates said that all sections of the community respected the right hon. gentleman, but to-day Sir Joseph was leader of a party, and must take full responsibility for his utterances. Sir Joseph Ward had said that next winter, if the Government stayed in office, there would be between 30,000 and 40,000 unemployed. (Hear, hear and applause.)

"There is a section of this huge audience," continued Mr. Coates, "who want to see unemployment, and they seem to be happy about it. May I say that a statement of that kind from a responsible man seems to me to be extravagant and outrageous. Of all the dismal outlooks and "expressions of the future that have been I'ttered in this country it is possibly t' most detrimental that has been r No man with any sense of responsibility, who ought to know the position, could possibly make an utterance of that kind unless that right hon. gentleman is suffering from some illness. I attribute it to the hon. gentleman's health, because I consider it one of the most flagrant cases of extravagance that has been uttered as long as I can remember."

A Woman's Voice: You did not mind him voting with you in the House.