UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19263, 31 May 1926, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

CONFERENCE WITH PREMIER A UTILE BRUSH [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 31. A conference, held on Sunday to discuss unemployment, was attended by the Premier and representatives of the City Council, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the New Zealand Natives’ Association, the Hospital Board, the Public Works and Labor Departments, Labor organisations, and jnembe_rs_ of Parliament. On the Premier's initiative, a resolution was carried to set up a central executive for the relief of unemployment, and to make recommendations to a central relief department and central Labor bureau. All registration for employment is to be made with the Labor Department. In opening the proceedings, Mr Coates outlined the organisation which it was proposed to set up. Ho said that a number of voluntary aid funds were being used. He thought all funds should be pooled for concerted action, also the funds which the Government might be asked to provide for reasonable requirements. The main thing was to know that the administration would be in hands capable of handling it. Separate organisations could carry on their work under the direction of a small executive attached to the Labor Department, the executive collecting information. He considered that the relief fund should he operated by the charitable aid department of the Hospital Board. The City Council had agreed to a course of action with regard to works, providing that it obtained the sanction of Parliament. He was prepared to have this sanction granted if the Auckland members of Parliament were agreeable. Private employers would find room for a few extra "hands, and the Farmers’ Union would try to get some young men work in the country. In the course of the proceedings, Mr Coates said : “ Some politically-minded gentlemen are interesting themselves in this matter, and are playing at cross purposes. Politics, as far as I am concerned, have nothing to do with it.” Mr Jordan, M.P.; I would not suggest that if I were you. It is not a fair thing. Mr Coates: What isn’t fair?

Mr Jordan: As if you didn’t stand for that. What we want is to see the men in work. (“Hear, hear.”) Mr Coates: I am putting it that way for this reason

Mr Jordan- That you might turn round and accuse me of political manoeuvring in connection with this. Mr Coates: T don’t say that, but the cap seems to fit, and if it fits you can wear it.

Mr Jordan: If you make the cap to measure it will fit, of course. Mr Coates: It is not made to measure, my friends. You know that!

The unemployment problem in Dunedin has resulted in the secretary of the local Waterside Workers’ Union receiving eighteen applications for work since the beginning of last month. All had to be refused, as an agreement that J2O men are enough to be permanent waterside workers at Dunedin is in existence, though subject to alteration. There are now fifty-nine unionists in excess of the required number, but these men had joined before any agreement as to limitation of membership was arrived at. The object of restricting the membership, Mr Brown said, was not to debar any man from earning his living, but the circumstances mentioned and the dearth of overseas shipping rendered applications for employment on the ’front futile.