UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT.

SPEECH BY MR, RANSOM. A HOSTILE RESOLUTION. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS *• unsatisfactory. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 0. . motion expressing l lack of confidence in the proposals of the Government to deal with the unemployment problem was passed at a meeting of unemployed men, which was addressed by the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom) to-day. There was an attendance of about 500 men. Mr Ransom gave an outline of what tho Government-had accomplished during the past year. He said the expenditure on relief work during 1028 had been £205,000,- and this was increased to £305,000 in 1929. Subsidies to local bodies had been increased from £BOOO to £28,000. Tho total number of men at present employed by the Public Works Department was 6200, of which 1600 were engaged on relief works. Arrangements had been made to give work to a further 300 men in the Auckland province, and 200 of these had already been placed. Tho Minister said that efforts were being made by the Lands Department to open Crown lands for settlement,' Loud applause followed a question as to what the Government proposed to do for the great majority of the unemployed for whom no arrangements had been made. Mr Ransom, said-that instructions had been issued to the engineers of the Public Works Department to prepare several large works. “ What would be your reply to a man who said lie did not have one shilling in his pocket? ” said another man. , The Minister said he would give him a shilling. Cries of “ Give us all a shilling ” were heard from all parts of the hall. The chairman asked the meeting whether the Minister’s proposals were satisfactory. There was a very strong negative reply, while a few voices replied m the affirmative. Motions expressing lack of confidence m the Government’s proposals, and demanding that Parliament should he summoned to deal with the problem, were carried.

UNEMPLOYED REGISTERS. ■ PUBLICATION OP NUMBERS URGED. : (Peb United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, May 5. - Publication of the returns of unemployed men in various centres was urged by several speakers at the meeting of, unemployed to-day. The meeting was addressed by the Minister of Public Works (Mr E, A. Ransom) w)jp promised to bring their representations before the Minister of Labour (Mr W. A. Veitch). When the question arose 'the Minister said it was not, in the best interests of New Zealand that the number of unemployed should .be continually paraded. A voice: But it is in the best interests of the men. « The Minister invited anyone to give a good reason for publishing the figures, and the reply was given that it would serve to stop the stream of unemployed men from Australia. The Minister said the argument was a good one, although he did not consider the influx was very great. A voice: You are • afraid to publish them. , W «Sr® not afraid .” replicd the Minister. Pear is not. in the composition of the present Government.” ' ' The Minister undertook to confer with the Minister of Labour on. the matter. REVUE TICKETS. Tickets are at present being sent out by the Mayoress (Mrs R. S. Black) for the revue entertainment which is to be staged next week for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of the unemployed. We have been asked to state that as all tickets are numbered the money for them may. be left at the Town Hall, the Women’s Club, or the Bristol.