OUT OF WORK

Southland Times, Issue 20447, 27 March 1928, Page 5

OUT OF WORK

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. ’ FAMILIES FACING STARVATION. Melbourne, March 26. At the reception to the delegates attending the Eight Hours and Labour Day demonstration, Mr Holloway said the problem of unemployment was closely linked up with migration, and as fast as the State Ministry employed men, an equal number of new arrivals seeking work were dumped into the State. At least 5,000 families within a short distance of the Trades Hall were confronted with starvation. They demanded that the Governments should immediately call a halt with all policies and agreements associated with migration until at least those already here were provided with useful work. Mr Scullin, deputy leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, said Mr Bruce had submitted figures showing that there were only 32,000 unemployed in Australia, but he (Mr Scullin) estimated that there were 100,000 without work. He said great stress had been laid upon a solution of the question of industrial unrest, but he did not know of any period when there was less industrial unrest in Australia. In the last census it was shown that unemployment was due to lack of work to the extent of 50 per cent., while industrial disputes were responsible for only 3 per cent., the balance of the causes being sickness and accidents. —A. and N.Z.