PRIME MINISTER’S PROMISE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 5, 1 October 1929, Page 10

PRIME MINISTER’S PROMISE

UNEMPLOYMENT TROUBLE UNITED PARTY OPTIMISTIC "I would not have made the promise liad I thought I could not carry it out.” This was the reply made by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) yesterday, when asked by a “Dominion” representative whether he was prepared to announce the details of his scheme, as briefly referred to In the House of Representatives on Saturday, for the absorption of the unemployed in New Zealand in five weeks’ time.

Sir Joseph Ward added that he was not prepared at present to disclose any details. It is understood, however, that whatever apprehension may have been felt by the rank and file of the United Party when the Prime Minister made his bald statement in the House has been dispelled by the circulation since of authoritative Information that the undertaking was not given on the spur of the moment, and that it was based on the value of schemes for unemployment relief that had been, or were to be, submitted by various Ministers to Cabinet. At the same time members of the other parties are still speculating as to what measures will be taken to secure the virtual solution of the unemployment problem in five weeks. It has been suggested that the Prime Minister may be looking forward to the placing of considerable numbers of men on his railway undertakings as soon as Parliament approves the necessary authorisations, that the State Forest Service will be asked to absorb more men in the preparation of areas for afforestation, and that the Public Works Department will be requested to help In the matter. Whatever may be the outcome of the promise of the Prime Minister, there was no mistaking the atmosphere of optimism and confidence in evidence in the Government camp yeterday.*

SEVERAL PROPOSALS BEFORE CABINET

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Dannevirke, September 30. The Prime Minister’s promise of work for all the unemployed in five weeks was referred to the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, who said that he could not say anything about it until Cabinet, which had before it several proposals for relieving unemployment, had put forward its schemes. He added that when certain railway authorisations, under consideration were put through, the works so provided for should absorb most of the unemployed labour.