"GOING ON WITH JOB"

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 8

"GOING ON WITH JOB"

EMPLOYMENT MINISTEE

KIR. COATES TO RESUME

INFLUENCE OF OTTAWA

•It is the intention of the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates to resume control at an early date of the p6rt£olios of Public Works, Transport, and Employment. During his absence these have been held temporarily by the Hons. C. E. Maemillan, E. A. Ransom, and A. Hamilton.

The suggestion that he might decide to drop direct responsibility for the administration of unemployment was answered emphatically by Mr. Coates to-day. "It is certainly my intention to go on with the job," he said. "I am more than evor convinced that we can grapple with what .appeared to be a baffling problem, not in our own Dominion only, but everywhere. The agreement sighed at Ottawa has a close bearing on the solution which we must seek: it helps to assure a market for our farm products. In Canada I was also able to get some interesting sidelights on their approach to difficulties which are much like our own in New Zealand, and this information will be "helpful in considering our own problems in New Zealand." ■

While,, however, his interest in the problem of unemployment is unabated, and he is determined to see that opportunities ,of employment are opened up, Mr. Coates recognises that his immediate responsibility, arising out of the Ottawa Conference, is to place before Parliament full information bearing upon the agreement which he there signed on behalf of New Zealand. This agreement, of course, requires ratification by Parliament, and its consideration will be one of 'the most important and the earliest of the matters to be dealt with in the session which begins next ■ Thursday. Legislation will also be required: to implement the agreement in its bearing on 'the Customs tariff.,

_ 'Shortly before my return to New Zealand," said .Mr. Coates, "I cabled to the Prime Minister "suggesting that he discuss with the Hon. Mr. Hamilton and. the Hon. Mr. Macmillan the possibility of their carrying on with my portfolios for a few weeks, until some of the matters arising out of the Ottawa Conference could be cleared out of the way. This they have agreed to do, and I shall gladly and with full confidence, leave the direct charge of the portfolios with-them for the present. I shall, of course, be in touch with them on. such matters as may call for attention while still occupied oTtaw^ ™ busm; ess arising, out of