UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 25

UNEMPLOYMENT.

ACUTE'IN DUNEDIN. The local Unemployment position is much the same as it has been for the past few weeks —that is to say, it is very much worse than it should be about this time of yeSr. There are about 200 men seeking employment through the Labour Department, and that is nearly as many as there were at the most difficult times in the middle of last winter. It is to be noted that trained men are almost invariably in demand, and, with a few exceptions, it is only unskilled labourers who are now without work. The reason or reasons why the position should be so bad is not clear, though obviously the cause is one affecting the whole of New Zealand, and the northern centres much more severely than Dunedin. One fact that doubtless throws some little light on the situation is that there has not during this season been anything tike the usual demand for farm labourers. Possibly the farmers generally are feeling the pinch and are economising by doing Without or reducing the labour they are accustomed to employ. . In the opinion of those who are in touch with the unemployment situation in Dunedin, it is at present worse than it has been at this time of the year for years past. On the Labour Department’s unemployment register on Saturday 220 names appeared, as compared with 40 registrations at the corresponding date last year. The greater number of those who have registered are unskilled labourers, but among the others ti.ere are eight motor drivers, five engineers, four electricians, ami four clerks. The prospect of the position being relieved to any great extent is not bright at the moment, and with the approach of winter the problem will probably become more pronounced. THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. : * MR COATES OPTIMISTIC. AUCKLAND, February 18. A. large deputation_ waited on the Prime Minister late this afternoon in regard to unemployment. The deputation was introduced by Mr M. J. Savage, member for Auckland West, who said that they wished to discuss the situation not only in Auckland, but also in the country generally.- The situation was serious throughout the country, but worse in Auckland than in any other part of New Zealand. "I can assure you, sir,” added Mr Savage, "that our interest in this matter is no flash in the pan. It is a very serious question, otherwise you would not find us here to-day.” Mr G. Davis said he had not known such a bad period of unemployment in his 28 years’ experience of industrial matters. They had gone to the trouble to gather from different workers’ organisations the. number of men and women unemployed. and it appeared that the number in Auckland province was 4000 at least. He added that they had no objection to immigrants. Many of the deputation had themselves been immigrants, but it was no time for immigration when the country was in such a bad way. Mr Phelan said that there were" 1000 timber workers unemployed, and he thought one solution of the difficulty in their case would be to place restrictions on the importation of sawn timber. . Mr Coates: Have you taken into consideration the effect that would have on other workers—wharf labourers, for instance? Mr Phelan: It would have' very little effect. Another wav' in which the unemployment situation might be relieved, Mr Phelan continued, would be in giving definite encouragement to secondary industries. . Other speakers addressed Mr Coates in similar terms. "I am not going to contest at this stage anything that has been sard,” replied Mr Coates. “I have been making /inquiries into the position, and on the advice I have had since returning to NewZealand I have made certain suggestions to the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Public Works for the betterment of the situation, and I hope to make these public in a few days. The reason for the position in which New Zealand found itself was purely economic. lhe country’s exports were not bringing back the value that had been anticipated, and the effect bad been felt by all concerned. It was wrong to think that the unemployment situation was confined to New Zealand. Mr Coates deprecated the attitude of some people who, he said, wanted To fall on the necks of the Government, and expect, everything, to be done for them. That was not the attitude of a healthy population. Nor was it the Government alone which had a responsibility. . Everything possible would be done, but it was the duty of the unemployed to do the very best they could to find work. —“Hear, hear’ 1 ’). The question of tariff and protection, he added, could not be dealt with until the report of the Minister of Customs was available. which would be when those who had- been asked to investigate the matter hatd represented their findings. “I. admit that immigration has a direct bearing on the number who find employment,” continued Mr Coates. “ft has been decided that from May we will cut out all immigration for four or five months. If it is!-found then I hat the economic position is • more hopeful the schemewill be resumed, and if the position, is no. better it will be further withheld.” At the same time he disputed the statement that men in New Zealand were being replaced by immigrants. He knew of an instance where there were 350 positions vacant in the country, and for these there were but 10 applicants. Those positions had therefore to be filled by immigrants. The future, he believed, was very hopeful. It had to be remembered that • in New Zealand because of the fact that it was a primary producing country there was an almost direct reflex of the conditions -in Britain. His observations in ■Britain and those of his party had revealed Britain to be on the verge of a great., era of production. Tn spite of the war and her economic difficulties every phase, of British industry * was showing signs of a very healthy state, and the caution and scientific knowledge that were being brought to bear assured a steady

and prosperous future. “When the wheels are set going,” added the Prime Minister, “there is no doubt wo will have once more a steady market. Wo can look forward to the future with confidence.” > GOVERNMENT ATTACKED. WESTPORT, February 14. At Denniston yesterday afternoon Mr H. Holland, M.P. (Leader of the Opposition), stated that from end to end_ of the Dominion there was a rapidly-developing unemployment problem, due on the one hand to -the Government neglect or incapacity to make provision for the changing economic conditions. There were thousands of workless men in the larger centres of the Dominion clamouring for work, and at the same time there were numerous important public works waiting to be gone on with. Every unemployed man able and willing to work could be absorbed. The Government’s plea was that no money was available, but when private capitalism broke down in industry, as was now the case, it was the bounden duty of the Government to set itself the task of organising finance and credit to keep the people in employment. The present immigration policy was neither fair to the immigrants or to the workers of New Zealand, and should be discontinued until such time as those who were workless and in want had been provided with an opportunity to earn a living for themselves and their families. ACUTE IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. February 20. The Mayor admitted yesterday that unemployment was certainly more acute than usual. He said he was conferring with his staff to see what work could be found for some of them in and around the city. POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRIST CHURCH, February 14. Messrs S. Fournier and H. Dunkley today were formally excluded from the unemployed movement on the grounds that their presence is detrimental. The motion for exclusion was carried on a show of hands. 23 voting for it and none against it. Mr Hills was appointed leader of the movement. The Chairman said that this morning Mr Dunkley and others had gone to an address in Hereford street given by Mr M’Kay, who had offered £2OO to the unemployment fund. They found that it was a vacant section. Mr Dunkley raid that he had mot Mr M’Kay in the street, and that Mr M’Kay said: *’ As soon as you open your soup kitchen 1 will contribute £200.” A motion was carried that Mr M’Kay should be asked to. send his donation to the Citizens Unemployment Committee. It was decided to take a census of the unemployed, apart from the Labour Bureaus list, and to call a mass meeting this week.

“MAKING A MISTAKE.” CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. “You are making precisely the same mistake, in confusing the unemployment issue with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York as the other men did when they confused it with Communism. Y’ou are only damaging your own .case.” lhe above remarks were addressed by the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer) this afternoon to Messrs E. L. Hills and C,Hutchison, the newly-appointed leaders of the unemployed, who waited on him for the purpose of enlisting his help in the efforts now being made to-deal with the problem. Mr Hills said that while he was a loyal British subject, he totally disagreed with the expenditure of 4o much money on the entertainment of the Duke and Duohess of York while there was so much unemployment and distress in the city. He urged- that no money be expended unnecessarily in connection with the entertainment of the Duke and Duchess who. he considered, knew themselves that the position of this country as regards unemployment was deplorable. He believed that they would not feel offended it money was not expended lavishly on street decorations and suchlike schemes, and asked if it would not be possible lor some of the money that had been raised to be devoted to the relief of unemploj ment j also that in whatever work was done the unemployed should b-» engaged as far as possible. - '{he Mayor, in reply, said that the Duke and Duchess cf York were coming as t| ro guests ef the Dominion, and while in Christchurch they would be the guests of the city and of the province. Those responsiole for the arrangements felt, that quite 95 per cent, of the residents of Christchurch wished to extend generous hospitality to the Royal visitors. The people and local bodies that had given money for the entertainment of the Roval visitor* would not give any less for the relief of unemployment because of that, and neither the deputation nor himself nor anybodv else had authority that they should divert the money raised for that purpose to the relief of unemployment. One suggestion uas made that anv work done by wav of decorating the citv should be given to the unemployed. Personally, he did not think these two questions should be brought together. LOAFERS BARRED. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. According to the tone of the meeting of unemployed held in Victoria square this morning, loafers will receive short shrift the future. The slogan adopted is Work, and how to obtain it,” and men who do not play the game are ,to be ostracised by the meetings. Dtfring the meeting a census of the unemployed in Christchurch was taken, tho men giving such particulars as their name and addresses, age, number of dependents, length of time out of work, and how long they had been in the Dominion. After -the census a motion was carried on a show of hands to tho effect that the meeting resolves, that where any one of its number who is given a job which be can do and which he feels able to do and vacates it for no valid reason, or where he misrepresents the position as regards the number of dependents and the length Of time out of employment, he be excluded from that and any subsequent meetings.

NO DEMONSTRATION DURING ROYAJi VISIT. ’ CHRISTCHURCH, February 19: The representatives of the unemployed, after a talk with Mr C. P. Agar, presi*. dent of the Chamber of Commerce, gave assurance that they would use their influence with the men to prevent a demonstration taking place when the Duke of York visits Christchurch. Mg Agar’s argument that the men had nothing to gain and everything to lose by such a demonstration at length prevailed. He told the unemployed leaders that demonstrations would not help them, and would probably disgust and antagonise those at present willing to help.