THE GREAT UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 5

THE GREAT UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

Sir,—As Parliament will meet shortly to discuss. subjects no more pressing than the above, it seems to tax the ingenuity of man to evolve a way ont of. the difficulty. We have brotherhoods and societies galore,. and in comparison to.the needs of humanity the assistances as a,drop in a bucket. Now, instead of men.of substance standing, as.it wore, with their hands';in their pockets,, if each was to ask himself the question: "Am Imy brother's keeper?"—a more manir fest feeling of compassion would arise in the breasts of mankind. 1 think there is a way that might be tried with safety, and' would hurt-no one, but benefit the owners and the men employed.' As appended herein is a list of holders' of land in the Dominion—of acres ranging, from 320 to 150,000 acres. In the Year Book, on Page 472, we find that holders of land are as follow:—5107 from 320 to 640 acres; 1862 from 640 to 1000 Veres; 1053 from 1000: to 2000 acres; 864 from 2000 tp 5000 acres;'. 278 from 5000 to 10,000 acres; 149 from 10,000 to 20,000 acres; 40 ■■ from' 20,000 to 30,000 acres; 14 from 30,000 to 40,000 acres; 8 from'4o,ooo to 50,000. acres.; and .one from 150,000 acres and over. - .

The writer may make many enemies by the mero\ suggestion, but he (ares not; Were legislation carried compelling, every owner of-land to employ one man for every 500 acres, there would be no unemployed in the land. The Government Labour Bureau could forward mon of the stamp required. Mou who wore found idle about towns would not go to fill vacancies offered them could bo treated- sts vagrants. • This is only roughly put, and it may be worth while for the Government to consider it before the cancer spreads.—l am, etc., ■ HENRY WALTON. Waikanae, June 7.