PREMIER’S VIEWS

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1932, Page 5

PREMIER’S VIEWS

ON UNEMPLOYMENT Public Help Sought DISTURBANCES AN OBSTACLE. LAW AND ORDER TO BE MAINTAINED. WELLINGTON, May 12. Interviewed to-day regarding recent disturbances in Wellington the Prime Alinister stated .that the Government was doing all it. possibly could to meet the unemployment position. “There s no doubt,” he s;iid, “that it is a very difficult problem, and one the dealing with which is so largely governed by the amount of money available for the purpose. The Alinister of Employment and th e Unemployment Board are giving a great deal of thought' and consideration to the devising of the best methods of providing for the unemployed by means of relief work schemes and the provision of food in cafes of want and distress. No man is working more sincerely and 1 sympathetically in the direction of al- ‘ leviating the difficulties than Mr Coates; and I feel sure that all right- ; thinking citizens will credit him with! ! making an honest, sincere endeavour ! to make the funds at his disposal go as fap as pos. ible in mitigating the dis- ; tress among the unemployed and .their dependents. I think it will be goner- 1 | ally recognised that the troubles w© ; are experiencing arc almost entirely brought-about by world-wide economic conditions over which w,e in this Dominion have no control. The Govern-- ; ment, in its efforts to bring about tho , rehabilitation of the country’s affairs, must look to the community generally ; for a; sistancc and co-operation and self-sacrifice in ensuring that beneficial •effects, which, it is hoped, will accrue from the legislative measures which hav e been recently passed by Parliament, will be fully achieved. I greati ly appreciate .the excellent spirit which ; has been shown up to the present by i the citizens generally, a large number of whom must be sorely feeling the _ strain of the prevailing stressful conditions. They have been responding . most generously to th© financial calls ( that have been made upon them by various social organisations which are . devoting attention to the relief of dis-' j tress of the unfortunate men and ' women who are out of employment. I

am :afraid that the continuance of that sympathetic feeling towards the unemployed is not going to be -encouraged; by riotous actions a n d vandalism on the part of a comparatively small hooligan section of the community which has caused such destruction and damage to many of the business premises in Wellington and in Auckland, it is to be regretted that, such actions must inevitably have the effect of discouraging that source of co-opera-tive help' which the Government must rely upon in its efforts to mak© provision for .the unemployed. As is well known, a certain amount of money has been made available by Parliament by

way of unemployment tax, gnd it is recognised that this tax means a very heavy burden on a large section of the public. The sum involved in the payment of .the present rates of pay to the relief workers will, it seems likely, more than absorb the amount of this taxation by the end of the period for which it has been provided: and it is, therefore, all .the mor© desirable thatthe citizens should b e encouraged, rather than discouraged, to continue that generous response to appeals on behalf of the unemployed which has been hitherto such a gratifying factor in meeting the present emergency. No good purpose can p'ossibly be served by extreme action on the part' of tho relief workers in striking, and by inciting disturbances and the destruction of property. On the contrary, these actions must render the position more difficult. I wish also to take this opportunity of expressing the Government’s warm appreciation of those who have voluntarily come forward to act as special police at the present time. Their loyal co-operation in assisting to maintain law and order merits our warmest commendation, an ( { worthily upholds the best traditions of citizenship. I should like to add, also, that the manner in which the officers and members of the Police Force have carried out their duty calls for our hearty appreciation and grattiude. They have exercised patience and tact in admittedly trying conditions, th6ir discharge of the difficult tasks affords a marked tribute to ;the all-round efficiency of the Force. I desire, again, to stress the fact that there is no unlimited supply of funds, and that fhe Gov. ernment is not wanting in wholehearted sympathy for those who are unfortunately suffering at the present time. We will earnestly continue to do our very best with the financial resources at our disposal in extending the greatest possible measure of relief. “To prevent any misunderstanding as to the Government’s attitude in connection with the recent regrettable occurrences,” concluded Air Forbes, “I give a very definite assurance that we shall deal severely with all such illegal actions, and that the maintenance of law and order in the community will be our paramount consideration at all costs.”

Public Safety Act WELLINGTON, May 12. | Air Forbes states that it is not the intention of the G'overnmcut to issue j any . proclamation undor the Public • Safety Conservation Act, the present j force being considered strong enough to cope with any situation that might , arise. “GAS GUNS” DECLARED UNLAWFUL. WELLINGTON, Afay 12. There is a proclamation published in to-night’s Gazette It extends a definition of the term “unlawful weapon’ in the Arm® Act to include “gas guns” and other similar weapons.