ENGINEER IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17955, 3 December 1921, Page 12

ENGINEER IMMIGRANTS.

WORK NOT OBTAINABLE. APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. [By TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRIBTCHURCH. Friday. The position of several members of Chrißtchurch branches of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, recent arrivals from England, in respect of unemployment and the fact that additional immigrants are arriving, was discussed by the branches, and it was decided to forward to the Prime Minister and to Labour members of Parliament a statement covering the cases of four. members. This has been done, the statement being signed by each man and countersigned by the secretary of the branches. In their statement the men say: "We desire to draw the attention of the Government to the position in which we find ourselves in this country. We are aware of the difficulty of the Government in being able to 'locate concrete cases of hardship unless the cases are brought directly and in detail to the notice of Cabinet Ministers. Therefore, with that in view, it has been decided to present our cases in detail, and to appeal to the representatives of the nation to see if something cannot be done to alleviate the conditions which are being forced on us each succeeding day that we are unemployed. The future for us looks very gioumy indeed when we realise the large number that are still coming out. We recognise that with their arrival the competition for what work there might be offering will become very keen, and, of course, will leave a large number still unemployed. The Government is cognisant of the forces that are in operation in the Old Country enticing the workers to this country. Therefore we feel it should be the duty of the Government that when out here it should assist the immigrant* until such time as they have obtained work. Unless something is done to enable us to meet our financial liabilities or give us the opportunity of working to secure the wherewithal to meet such liabilities then our cases will become hopeless and desperate. To avoid that position encircling us and for tho good name of the country we make this appeal both to the human and national sentiment of members of the Government:—(l) Might we suggest that an unemployment grant similar to the English unemployment scheme be brought in to assist us' over this period, or allow the Government to lend us an amount necessary to keep us alive and when in work we might be able to rep.j the amount loaned; or (2) grant us sufficient to pay our fares back to the country from whence we came." t Mr. Massey has replied, stating that he is bringing the cases under .the notice of the Minister for Labour.