UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1926, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. GOVERNMENT PLANNING RELIEF. (IIY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON.. May 25. A deputation, introduced by the Labour menibelis of Parliament, waited on the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour last night relative to unemployment. The speakers urged the need for prompt Government action to deal with the matter. It was pointed out that there were several public works about the city, such as planting reserves, and road extensions, which could b© put in hand, and the question was whether the Government w'ould assist the local authorities in the matter of finances where such works were put in hand to a bsorb the unemployed. There was also a number of waitresses and other’s out of work.

Mr Anderson said that so far as he could see there was n!ot so much unemployment as some people represented. The Government,' however, was giving the question of unemployment serious consideration, and relief works 1 were being investigated. He hoped within a few days that an organisation would be moving so that married men could lie xilaced in works suitable for them. The Minister thought that the local authorities must do their own share. Touching the question of Rsensiged hands, the Minister expressed the opinion that it was the duty of the employer in times of trouble, to. relievo the position ns far as possible. The position of unemployed women wa s more difficult.

In response to his question asi t’o whether they would go into the country, a w oman member of the deputation reuplied in the affirmative. The Minister said he would see what could be done.

Replying to the: question regarding assistance in the: matter of meals for single men. the Minister said they were in a better position than other men to go into the country and look for work.