UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10957, 4 October 1928, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

THE PRIME AIINISTER S OPINION. Although the position is by no means acute, the prevalence of unemployment in New Zealand cannot be doubted. Advocates of prohibition tell us. that if their pet scheme became law, the twenty odd thousand people in the New Zealand licensed trade would quickly be “absorbed by ocher industries.” They fail to tell us what these industries are, and how it will be done, and when. Tlie fac-t is, that if prohibition were carried, another twenty thousand at least would be added to our numbers of unemployed at the beginning of next winter. Who is to look after their wives and families ? lii Atnerica, despite prohibition, there are more unemployed, to-day than there were in the slump period of 1920-21, and 1,874,050 more than there were in 1925, according to a report to the U.S. Senate made by the Secretary of Labour. Air J. J. Davies, and published in the “Dominion” on 28th Alarch last. The Prime Minister. Air Coates, speaking at Wellington Q ii June 14th. 1928, pointed out that whereas in rhe United States of America there were at least 1 in 60 unemployed, in New Zealand (under continuance) the figures were 1 in 300 at the outside. Thus New Zealand was five times better off than the United Stares of America.*