DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 28

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS.

REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS. REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS. Saturday morning was set apart by the visiting Cabinet Ministers —Mr J. G. Coates (Prime Minister), Mr K. S. Williams (Minister of Public Works), and Mr A. D. M'Leod (Minister of Lands) — for the reception of deputations at the conference room, Railway Station building. Shortly after 9 o’clock private parties seeking interviews began to arrive, and from that hour until a-quarter past 1 the Ministers listened to requests and complaints and replied to questions put to them. Now and again, instead of a complaint, a complimentary reference was made to the work or to the intentions of the Government, and the Ministers smiled gratefully when these opportunities came along. DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUBThe reception of a deputation from the Dunedin Jockey Club, with reference to railway fares to Wingatui on race days, was, at the club’s request, postponed until a future' date. TAIERI RIVER TRUST. Members of the Taieri River Trust, led by Mr R. T. Sadd (chairman), waited on the Ministers at noon. Mr Sadd said he wished to bring forward several matters in connection with the extensive protective works now in progress and nearing completion. The original estimate of the cost of the works was £150,000, on which it was agreed that the ratepayers’ contribution should be on a £ for £ basis, less £lO,OOO to be found by the Railways Department for lengthening the Otokia railway bridge. The poll was carried by the ratepayers on the understanding that they would not be expected to find more than the £65,000, but by the passing of “ The Finance Act, 1927,” it appeared that the trust couki be charged any amount up to the half of £215,000. The amount to be spent by the department would require to be a great deal more than the original estimate, and the trust was of the opinion that the works now nearing completion were inadequate for the safety of the district. The revised cost of the works was about £174,000, though this did not provide for internal drainage for the Duck Creek area,, which was very necessary to enable full advantage io be taken of the powerful pumping plant now being erected, nor did it provide for improvement of the contour channel and Lee Creek. The estimated cost of the channel to convey the Duck Creek drainage was £12,558. In the original scheme provision was made for flood gates, costing £6OOO. These boxes were cut out by the department without consulting the trust, and it appeared reasonable that the main drain to deal with the internal drainage should be cut to the pumps in lieu of the boxes. If these works of internal drainage were tied up for want of finance the Taieri Plain was very little better off than it was before the scheme for river protective works was undertaken. The rating of the district for protective works and loans for flood damage was fairly heavy, and the trust was afraid that it would not be possible for the settlers to pay rates on a sum so greatly in excess of what was anticipated. The trust was of opinion that much of the expenditure was far above what it "should have been, particularly with regard to the operations of the dredge, which was not suitable for the work. The trust, therefore, asked that the Government would give the matter its favourable consideration and'make the Taieri Plain worth living on at a reasonable cost to the ratepayers, and that the agreement as to the amount to be paid by the ratepayers be not exceeded, or that a moderate limit be placed on that amount. The trust also suggested that the time for repayment of the loan be extended from 36J* years to 73 years. With the rates they already had to pay the Taieri ratepavers had a heavy burden to carry without any further increase.

Tho Prime Minister asked, was it not worth while for the settlers to make it H lor £ on the larger amount? Mr Sadd said that had never been put to the ratepayers. The poll was carried on tite assumption that £150.000 would do the work.

Mr Leary said that if the farmers on the Taieri bad no fear of floods they wouid increase their production, so that as an economic proposition the proposed work would bo a good one. ... The Prime Minister asked what would be the settlers’ view if their liability did not exceed £76,000? Mr Sadd said the great point was to limit tho settlers’ liability. At present the boat'd did not know where it was eoing to stop. ’lhe Prime Minister said he would discuss tho position with Mr Williams before they left Dunedin and let the trust' know their decision. Mr Sadd: If a definite limit is set it will satisfy the people. THE UNEMPLOYED. WORK URGENTLY REQUIRED. Mr 1. K. Sidey, M.P., introduced a deputation representing the unenmloyed ol Dunedin and suburbs. Sir Charles*Statham, M.P., was also present, and an apology for unavoidable aosence was received from Mr J. M’C. Dickson, M.P. Mr Sidey said the deputation represented the Otago General Labourers’ Union for whom Mr R. Harrison and Mr \V. W. Batchelor appeared, and the Otago Labour Council, for whom Mr J. Robinson ap peared. Ho pointed out that, in spite of the enterprise of the City Council, the Harbour Board, and other local bodies, also the vast amount of building that was going on in this city, tho unemployment position was still extraordinarily acute. On no previous occasion had there been the same amount of distress at this time of the year. In the future, if an v work became available he asked that preference be given to local workers, because formerly the experience had been that when news of a proposed work spread an influx into the city from people outside resulted.

Mr Harrison expressed the gratitude of the unemployed to Mr Sidey for helping them in their trouble. In addition to the works spoken of by Mr Sidey, buildings were in progress for the Daily Times and Evening Star Companies, the cement works were being shifted to Burnside, and the Town Hall was in progress, yet there were 300 men to-day, with wives and families, on the verge of starvation. In his view, the working man should not suffer. The Government had appointed a commission to ascertain the cause of unemployment. Inventions and the introduction of machinery were, no doubt, one of the causes, and he was of opinion that the wage workers ought not to suffer because machines were invented to create wealth. He believed that if the Government set itself to the task it could find a solution to the problem. Mr Batchelor, in stating that the position was even more acute than Mr Harrison had declared it to be, instanced several cases of hardship among working families in Dunedin. In making provision for the future he considered that some form of legislation should be introduced by which every wage earner in New Zealand should be forced to subscribe to an unemployment fund. Every worker and every employer should pay into the fund. He spoke to thousands of workers every week, and he said to them: “ Would you contribute so much of your wages every week towards an unemployment fund? " and 90 per cent, of them said they would. Employers said the same tning. The difficult’"' was in the collection of the money, and, to overcome the difficulty, legislation ought to be brought down providing that a certain percentage—say, Id or 2d per week —should be deducted from every £1 of every worker’s pay. Every income, no matter- how small, should contribute. and money income from all sources ought to pay—bank shares, totalisator dividends, and bo on. He hoped more workers would be placed on the Port Chalmers duplication works.

Mr Robinson said the Otago Labour Council had commissioned him to make representations regarding the unemployment situation in Otago in the hope that the Government would institute sufficient public works to absorb the unemployed in this district. ' During last winter the Dunedin City Corporation, assisted by Government subsidy, carried out certain local works upon which a large number of local unemployed were engaged for a time. About the same time the Government started about 200 additional men on local public works, and between the two the local situation, as far as married men were concerned, was kept well in hand. Single men seeking employment, even when they had dependents, were regarded almost as outlaws. Towards the close of the winter, however, the corporation, having spent its loan money, was forced to call a halt, and then, far from attempting to relieve unemployment, it embarked upon a definite policy of retrenchment, embracing a large body of men who had been in the employ of the council for years. It was understood that 50 additional men had recently been placed on public works in | Otago, but this number was small when compared with* the » total number of unemployed in this district. There had been no improvement in the secondary industries, the position of some of them being much ‘ worse now than it was a few months ago. It was reported to him that, although these men were dismissed, a number of immigrants, who had recently obtained employment there, were retained, and when one of the dismissed men. who had served his time with the firm and was considered a first-class hand, protested to the management against the discrimination shown, ho was told that the firm was under an obligation to the Government to retain those immigrants in its service The Prime Minister said the nominated system provided certain conditions, but, ■•there was no collusion between the Government and any employer—none whatever. If an employer wanted to bring a man out he had to find him work for two years and be responsible for it. In reply, the Prime Minister said he was always pleaded to meet those who were interested in the welfare of those they represented. Personally, tie had spent hours, days, and weeks in attempting to think out a solution of tho unemployment difficulty A solution of the problem had net been found in other countries. The question of unemployment insurance was bemg considered, but it was not an easy matter, as it would involve the employer, the State, and the worker, and would involve several very difficult principles. It was a wise provision of the Dunedin City Council in giving preference in its relief works to local men. The Government found that, when it advertised a job, many men from outside found their way to the nearest centre.

The Prime Minister said he knew that most men were honest triers. He thought he would be safe in saying that 99 per cent, of the human population wanted work, and not charitable aid.If the Government set itself to the task

it could find work for every man in NewZealand; it could do it to-morrow. But in the future a crash would inevitablycome. The solution was not easy to find. He declared that men had been sacked from their jobs for the sake of selfpreservation on the part of the employers. He was pleased to see that today "there were signs of a return of confidence in the resources of the Dominion. In the meantime palliatives would have to be used to relieve the situation. He pointed out that the Government was at present employing a very large number of men on public works, and instructions had been issued to all the postmasters in New Zealand to find out from farmers how many men were unemployed in their various districts, and also if any farmers wanted hands. In this way a great number of men had been found work. The Government had in mind certain additional works which it would take some time to investigate. Married men would be paid 12s a day and single men 9s, in addition to which there would be certain contract jobs.

The Prime Minister pointed to the number of men on public works in Otago, and said that provision must be made for necessitous eases. Mr Sidey thanked the Ministers for “the patient hearing given to the deputa- , tion.