AUCKLAND UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 14

AUCKLAND UNEMPLOYED

MINISTERS TAKE ACTION.

MEN FOR PUBLIC WORKS. URGENT STEPS RECOMMENDED. On the initiative of three Ministers of tho Crown, urgent steps to moet the unemployment situation m Auckland were recommended to the Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, yesterday. The three Ministers in the city, tho Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, tho Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, and the Hon. J. B. Donald, visited the Government Labour Bureau, and were informed that 1030 men wero registered as unemployed. Tho Ministers later discussed tho position with Messrs. G. C. Munns, J. S. Fletcher and H. R. Jenkins, M.P.'s, and decided to despatch a telegram to Mr. Ransom, urging that, if possible, the Public Works Department should find employment for 500 men in country districts.

The telegram to Mr. Pvansom suggested work might conveniently bo found in country districts in tho vicinity of Auckland. However, advice was received during the day that tho Government proposed to engage a number of men on reading work in tho Coromandol district, and it is possible that will ho tho work on which some of tho Auckland unemployed may be placed. Speaking at a fuuct'on of welcome tendered to him later by tho Auckland branch of the United Party, Mr. de la Perrelle expressed the view that the bringing in of 50,000 immigrants under the Reform regime had flooded the labour market. The Minister thought tho present position would not have been so acute had it not been for that fact, for otherwise New Zealand would have been able more effectively to have absorbed its unemployed. The aftermath of that immigration had been to cause a depressing situation, and made tho task of the new Government more difficult.

Discussing tho Government's land settlement policy, Mr. de la Perrello said provision was made for small holdings, capable of intensive cultivation, in tho vicinity of inland towns and near dairy factories. By an easy ingoing men with thoir families would thus bo permitted to carve out their destiny, provido homes of their own, and become contented citizens. That, in his opinion, would largely solve the unemployment question. Tho Minister of Lands was paying much attention to that phase of the land question, and very quickly satisfactory results should bo achieved.

In congratulating a deputation from the Mount Albert Borough Council on the fact that it was employing a large number of men 011 road reconstruction work, the Minister gave an assurance that the Government was not letting the grass grow under its feet in grappling with the unemployment situation. Naturally, assistance had to be given'first to men with families.