UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17956, 1 May 1922, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

IMMIGRATION SHOULD STOP. ■ PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS. [Peu, United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, May 1. A deputation from the Central Progress League interviewed the Prime Minister, the Hons. J. G. Coates and G. .1. Anderson concerning unemployment, and urged that immigration should slop while there were men out of work in this country, and that public works should be speeded up so as to provide work, as the position was bad now and would become worse before the winter. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that the last big batch of immigrants had arrived, and there would be no more largo shipments before the spring. The Government had sent 1,105 unemployed to various public works, and would be employing more. New Zealand could not close its doors entirely to the British, who were now experiencing great difficulties. Immigrants all helped the country to bear the burden of debt. An assurance was given that works would be commenced to provide for a certain number of ablebodied men and a, smaller number unable to do hard work; but Mr Massey emphasised that local bodies who had raised loans must do their share.