UNEMPLOYMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 February 1927, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

PROBLEM AT DUNEDIN.

INFLUENCE OF IMMIGRATION. DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. UIV TELEGRAPH PBESB ASSOCIATION.} DUNEDIN, Feb. 7. A deputation from the Otago Trades and Labour Council approached the act-mg-Pnme Minister to-day in regard t-o the unemployment which at present exists in Dunedin, i Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., who introduced the deputatio'n, explained that it was the outcome of a motion passed oy tne ocal Tirades and Labour Council, emphasising the necessity of bringing beioie the Government the amount of unemployment which existed. What must have impressed the Government was the fact that such, an amount of unemployment was extraordinary at this period of the year. They would have 'to go back many years before they could point to a similar position, and natural'y those most vitally concerned were anxious as to what would happen. Another matter for the Government to consider was whether it was not bruising immigrants to New Zealand at a. a-reater rate than the country could absorb.

Mr j. Robinson, .secretary of the Council, asked that the Government should undertake certain works, and made reference to the large number of immigrants coming into the country. It was pointed out that 152 men were at present out of work, 88 of whom were married and 64 single. Sir Charles Statham and Mr ,T. Horn, M.P., also nrged that public works shoidd he undertaken. Mr ' G H. Lightfoot, officer in charge; of the Labour Department, >said he had circularised 1500 farmers, but had; met with a poor .response. The Minister, in reply, said, that when other countries were considered the percentage of 'unemployed was cm HI. H" and his colleagues had cabled to the Prime Minister when he reached London asking him to stop immigration for four or five months.. Mr Coates would probably reply on his return to the Dominion, but it seemed to bim that the more help provided the more constant would become the problem.