UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT

IMMIGRATION ISSUE

QUESTIONS FOR CABINET

Since the unemployment problem has been reported to be acute in Auckland and other parts of the country' there has been some criticism of the Government 's immigration policy. Amongst other things, it' has been urged that the volume of immigration, should be curtailed until the-, general economic posi-. tion becpmes more buoyant. Unless something:is speedily done it is generally expected that -the Government ;will be subjected to criticism when Parliament meets.

The Prime. Minister will return to the. Dominion on Monday, and it is fairly, certain that the. question of unemployr. ment and the ■ Government's .immigra^ tibn policy will not be among tho least of the matters with which he.will have to deal before he has been long back in the country. A temporary cessation of the flow of immigration will be one of the questions upon which he will very likely be called upon to decide in conjunction with his Cabinet colleagues. ■...-:■ ■ ...

Pending Mr. Coates 's return no statement as to what. Ministers will propose is forthcoming; but the Minister of Labour stated recently that he was preparing certain suggestions for the consideration of Cabinet.

At a meeting .of the Fermer3 J Union executive at Palmerston North on Saturday there was some criticism of the Government's'immigf atibri policy. One speaker remarked '-that:-tire Immigration . Department should consult the farmers and find out how many men were wanted before immigrants were brought out to New Zealand. " The Post" was informed to-day that the Department always follows the practice of writing to the Farmers' Union as Well as other organisations.with'a view of ascertaining whether positions can be found -for. immigrants who are en route to New Zealand. .Up to the present it had been .possible to piace immigrants with farmers without a great deal of trouble. At any rate, inquiries were always made by the Department, so that immigrants might be placed, it possible, without. undue delay.