"STRATFORD EVENING POST" MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1928. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 83, 6 February 1928, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1928. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Last winter unemployment was acute in New Zealand and many cases Of. distress were reported. Efforts were made by the Government and local bodie s to relieve the situation and it was hoped that in the summer there would be a change for the better. But now summer ha s come, and almost gone, winter is not far away, and unemployment, especially in the cities, is as bad as ever. It is rather late in the day to discuss the causes of this prolonged industrial crisis. But in the opinion of many, it is proved beyond doubt that, the Government's reckless policy of encouraging immigration on a large scale without attempting to make any serious provision for the imported worker, has been largely instrumental in producing these lamentable conditions. This fact is enough to emphasise the Government's responsibility, and we have a right to expect from Mr Coates and Id's colleagues a great deal more than polite platitudes coupled with entirely delusive assurances that things are not as bad as they might be. However, as the Auckland "Sun" says: "Nothing is to be gained from a shrewish admonition of the Government. It is strong enough numerically—too strong that way, indeed—to worry about adverse public opinion. But neither the Government nor the Opposition parties of politicians can be absolved from blame in respect of the causes Of record unemployment. They displayed a notorious lack of constructive statesmanship when the subject of unemployment engaged their voluble attention last session "To-day, there are over 9.000 less workers on the land than there were two years ago. Industries ■ are depressed, and thousands of'potential workers are trapped in idleness. And a king's ransom is being spent on charitable aid for able-bodied men and women. If these facts do not prick the consciences of politicians; if these disgraceful conditions do not demand political action, the whole system of government is an expensive farce."