GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

Northern Advocate, 7 April 1927, Page 7

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

REGARDING UNEMPLOYMENT,

PREMIER’S PRONOUNCEMENT,

WELLINGTON, This Day,

In the course of a, reply to a deputation to the Government yesterday, which drew attention to the depression in the timber industry and urged the imposition of higher duties on imported timber, the. Hon. J. G. Coates referred to a remark which had been made by Mr F. Turley, secretary of the Timber Workers’ Association, to the effect that 9s and 12s a day was not fair pay for unemployed workers engaged on works arranged temporarily to meet their needs. Mr Coates gave an absolute denial to the suggestion that he was concerned in the cutting down of wmges. The policy of the Government was to maintain the standard of living and there was only one way of doing that and that w r as by increasing the output per unit. While we were up against difficulties, it was a matter for everybody to get at it for alii they were worth. It was necessary, in the present circumstances; for everyone to give a better return if they could do so. He did not say that could be done in every case, but where possible it was important that a better return should be got, in order to meet present competition.

Mr H. E. Holland, M.P.: “Do you suggest that 9s a day can keep a married man and his family?” Mr Coates: “I suggest that a man who is unemployed is very much better off with 12s a day than he would be with nothing. We are doing all we can to meet the,position.” —Press Assn.