UNEMPLOYMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17057, 11 June 1926, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT.

ACUTE AT PALMERSTON. CONFERENCE'I X WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTOtN, NORTH, this day. A meeting was held this morning at the request cf the Prime Minister, to consider mdans o{ relieving the unemployment position locally, where it- is very aqjite. Mr. Nash, M.P.. presided. The Labor Inspector reported that (here were in the town 135 married men, with dependants totalling 438, out of work, as well as 37 single men. OT those totals there were 50 distressed cases, affecting 123 dependants. After a discussion on local measures ■for relieving the position, a committee was set up to find, employment in the town, and; select deserving cases for engagement. It was decided to send the following ((solution to Mi*. Goat es: "That wo view with alarm the amount t.f unemployment in P'almeiston North and consider as the railway works here have been commenced and-constitute a work of a productive nature, a remedy is easily available by providing more work on Hie deviation in order to absorb as far as possible all .local unemployed." WELLINGTON, this day. A conference of representatives of local bodies and social organisations discussed tin' means of meeting unemployment, The Mayor of Wellington remarked that the unemployed should be classified ns those able to give a fair day's work for a day's pay and those nimble to do so. in the bitter case, in his opinion, the responsibility became a national one, though the local bodies must bear their share. Two committees were set up, one to consider the commencement of useful relief, "works and the other to deal with cases of distress and those in need of immediate assistance. MR. COATES WEARS. A deputation of the Wellington Labor Unemployment Relief Committee met Mr. Coates to-day to stress the urgency or the unemployment situation. Mr, A. Cook, chairman of the committee, in the course of a statement, said that ."id or 70 id' the men engaged on a Public Works contract at Mangahuo, were Italians. Mr. Coates expressed surprise and asked where they came from. Mr. Cook said they had been drifting into positions .for months past. Many New Kcaltutdero had been put off the works during the past week and none of them were Italians. Ho did not contend the Italians should |bc dismissed, but contended they should not have preference. Mr. Coates: Certainly not. Mr. Cook also said that: twelve men had been put oft' at Mokau and unoin- ! ployed men put on in their place. Mr. Coates said he denied thai absolutely. He said the number of men had''actually been increased, "My concern has' been to keep these men going, and certainly not to Back them and put others on." Mr. Coqk said he might have been misinformed but he was siirc of the facts regarding Maisgahao.

Mr. Coates, replying on the general (piestion, said as far as humanly possible, the Government would join with the Labor organisations in overcoming the present trouble. His one thought wtis that all should put their shoulders to the wheel. The mailer was now being deal! With by the Conference and he hoped that legislation which he would bring before Parliament would result'in a lot of trouble being rapidly got rid of. Ho could not agree to Public Works being used Cor unemployed relief; that would be going bach to the "good old days."