UNEMPLOYMENT'

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 27

UNEMPLOYMENT'

MEN IN DESPERATE STRAITS. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. WELLINGTON, May 11. A deputation of unemployed men waited on Mr R. A. Wright, Acting Minister of Labour, to-day. Mr P. Fraser, M.P., said that the 200 men in the deputation represented not a quarter of the men estimated to be out of work in Wellington. - Sir F. Cornwall (president -of the District Council of the Alliance of Labour) said that for the last three years the council had been urging the Government to do something permanent to meet unemployment. lie submitted that unemployment was worse at present than it was 12 months ago. Unless something was done immediately there would be from 1500 to 2000 unemployed in Wellington within six weeks, for seasonal occupations would be soon all closed down.

Mr R. Semple (secretary of the General Labourers’ Union) said they did not wish to exaggerate the position or to indict the Government, but merely to impress on the Government the of the situation in the hope that it yvould realise its responsibility and provide relief. There were men in the room, he said, who had matriculated but had been compelled to look for unskilled work. Mothers with families were getting desperate, and women had come to his office and threatened to put themselves over the end of the wharf. Men were sleeping out every night in Wellington. In reply, Mr Wright said that the reducted rate of wage was simply a makeshift endeavour to find temporary employment until the men got other work. Last year the Government spent nearly £500,000 on unemployment relief, and would have to do the same this year. It was trying to find additional money, If any logical, reasonable relief scheme could be suggested by anyone,, the Government was willing to consider it. The total relief expenditure last year was £379,565 by the Public Works Department, £lB.OOO by the Forestry Department, £75,106 in subsidy to local bodies for relief works. The Minister detailed what was being done in regard to Wellington province and went on to say that the Government would do exactly what it had done last year in regard to payment of subsidies to local bodies, and he hoped local bodies would help as they did last year. He was sanguine enough to believe that the public would respond in the same manner as last year to relief appeals. Asked if the Government would reconsider its policy in regard to paying reduced rates, the Minister said he would place the representations before Cabinet, but did not think there was much chance of the Government revising its policy in that respect. The Minister added that about 6800 men had been sent to Government relief works since April. 1927. Some ISOO of these had been placed since February 13, and approximately 3500 left on their own accord, including 690 since February 13. The total at present on relief works was 2329. The people in New Zealand, as well as people elsewhere, were suffering today from the aftermath of the war, and that was primarily the re: .son for the present economic condition!. Even in the United States, which possessed the bulk of the world’s gold, there (vas a large number of unemployed. Even supposing some Utopian permanent relief scheme were put into operation in New Zealand, and arrangements were made for every boy and girl on leaving school to be given a job. the result would be that people from all over the world would be attracted to the Dominion, and we would be “ snowed up.” Mr Fraser made an interjection about Queensland. “ When you become Prime Minister. Mr Fraser,” said the Minister, “ you will not be able to solve this problem, I am sure.” Mr Fraser: “I will be able to make a better job of it than the present Government.”— (Applause.) Personally, said the Minister, he had never stood for the payment of lower rates of wages than those fixed by the Arbitration Court, but it was not fair to say that the Government in offering 9s and 12s a day was taking advantage of the necessity of the unemployed. The Government did not want to take advantage of anyone’s necessity. The reduced rate was simply an endeavour to find temporary employment until the men got other work. SERIOUS POSITION IN AUCKLAND DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. AUCKLAND, May 12. “ I am not exaggerating when I say that the unemployment position is worse to-day than when we waited on you two years ago,” said Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., in introducing a deputation representing 28 trade unions to the Prime Minister to-day. There were 1000 men registered with the Labour Department as unemployed, every trade being represented. Some system of State unemployment insurance was absolutely necessary. Mr E. J. Phelan said he considered that there were at least 2000 people out of work, not only men but also women and girls being affected. There ■were 700 sawmill hands out of work, and another 600 busmen, making 1300 timber industry workers in all. This had been brought about very largely by the importation of timber. If importation were to be stopped it would mean that employment would be found for about 2000 men. Mr Coates said importation meant that work was found for some men. Mr Phelan: But it pushes others out. Mr Coates: If you ask me to give the timber mechanics of this country

carte blanche you know wliat that would mean. “ To-day we have people starving in this city,” continued Mr Phelan. “ Local organisations are doing what they can. The Patriotic Association dealt with 125 men this week. They were down and out. The Government has been good enough to subsidise the work of the association. Would it extend that consideration to local bodies? Would the Government say to the local bodies ‘ We will subsidise you if you find work for the unemployed in your respective districts ’ ? ” The Prime Minister: We have done it from one end of New Zealand to the other, and we shall continue to do it, so that clears that up. “ Immigrants are still coming in by the shipload,” said Mr Phelan. “ You are not playing the game with these people. They come here to a job, but such are the conditions of pay that within a few weeks of their arrival they are out on the streets.” “ I deny definitely there are whole shiploads coming in,” said Mr Coates. “ Those coming in are members of separated families. So far as the records show we are unable to ascertain that they have interfered with the labour market. Perhaps a hard taskmaster would say that no more should come, but the pleadings of families had to be considered. No one will dispute that the outlook is brighter now, and the effect must be felt in the long run. So far as the local bodies are concerned we will continue to offer them every inducement to find work. The money will be decentralised. It is the Hospital Board’s job to relieve people in distress.” Mr Savage: Not the unemployed. Mr- Coates: Yes, if in distress. Mr Savage: Then the local taxpayer has got to do the job? Mr Coates: Yes. If the unemployed are in distress; but the local taxpayer is not doing it on his own. The Wellington and Auckland Hospital Boards have received considerable sums from the State—so per cent, of tbe relief granted. I fail to see how relief could be better undertaken than by the charitable aid boards. Mr Savage: Don’t you think the State is passing off its responsibility on to local bodies? Mr Coates said that that was a matter of opinion. The Prime Minister also told the deputation he hoped to get an exact classification of the unemployed, “ with a view not altogether of finding employment, but of doing away with unemployment.” Too many young fellows were being driven into the narrow avenue of pick and shovel work. MR COATES’S PROMISE. WORK FOR 500 MEN. AUCKLAND, May 13. At the conclusion of the unemployment deputation yesterday, Mr Coates announced that the Government would find work for another 500 men on public works and forestry operations in Auckland.