UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT.

IMMIGRATION MAY BE STOPPED. STATEMENT BY ACTING-PRIMB MINISTER. [TT.tSS ASfOCIATUS TELIOBAM ) DUNEDIN, February 7. A statement to the effort that Cabinet had cabled Mr Ooates on his arrival in London, suggesting that immigration be stopped for four or Ave months, in view of tho unemployment problem in New Zealand was made by the Acting-Primo Minister, the Hon. Mr Downle Stewart, to a deputation which waited on him at Dunedin yesterday. The deputation was from the Otago Trades and Labour Council, and approached the Acting-Prime Minister in regard to the unemployment which at present exists in Dunedin.

Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., who introduced it, explained that it was tho outcome of a resolution passed by the local Trades and Labour Council, emphasising tho necessity for bringing before the Government the amount of unemployment which existed. Mr J. Robinson, secretary of the Council, asked that tho Government should undertake certain works and made reference to the large number of immigrants coming into the country. It was stated that 152 men were at present out of work, 88 of whom were married and 54 single. Sir Charles Statham and Mr J. Horn, M.P., also urged that Public Works should be undertaken. Mr G. H. Lightfoot, officer in charge of the Labour Department, said he had circularised 1506 farmers, but had met with a poor response. Tho Minister, in reply, said that when other countries were considered, the percentage of unemployed was small. He and his colleagues had cabled the Prime Minister when ho reached London, asking him to stop immigration for four or five months. Mr Coatos would probably reply on his return to the Dominion. It seemed to him that tho moro help provided tho more constant would become the problem. NO RELIEF WORK. Yesterday's registrations of unemployed numbered 23, 17 of the number being married with 53 dependents. No work was made available by the Government Labour Bureau, but a farmei selected one -of tho men to undertake work for him. Although tho' Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association has tho names of 29 unemployed exsoldiers on its books, the view is taken by the secretary that the position is improving. Four new applications have been received since last Wednesday, and three men have been placed in work. All of the jobs found nave been merely of a temporary nature. Several days have elapsed since tho Unemployment Officer in the Labour Department stated that a sufficient number of men had notified their willingness to accept employment on Public Works relief jobs, but the Department has so far not placed any in hand.