WORK FOR WORKLESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1926, Page 15

WORK FOR WORKLESS.

GOVERNMENT’S TASK. i u - LEGISLATION PROPOSED. DEPUTATION TO PREMIER 5y Tslefraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Replying to a deputation from the unemployed to-day, the Prime Minister said that so far as was humanly possible the Government would join with the labour organisations in endeavouring to overcome the unemployment trouble. His one thought was that all should get their shoulders to the wheel. Personally lie believed the trouble was only temporary and it was hoped that the committee of the various organisations which had been set up, and which was sitting that day, would assist in relieving the situation, and that the legislation which he proposed to ask Parliament to pass, and which he had no doubt would be passed, would result in a lot of the present trouble being got rid of. “In the course of a fortnight at least, we meet on common ground and in a common cause,” he said, “and our efforts will be directed towards getting work for the unemployed and giving relief in necessitous cases. If you want additional representation on the com; mittee from the Trades Hall we are willing to give it.” The Prime Minister said he could not agree to using the Public Works for absorbing the unemployed. That would be like going back to the “good old days.” All Public Works employees nowadays were trained men who gave a good return for the money spent. His concern was to see that they had something to look forward to in the future and that they went on with the programme that had been laid down by the department. When the department had a good man it wanted to stick to him. Unemployment was seasonal to a- great extent. Wherever it could be arranged men would be drafted from the labour bureau to relief works. There could not very well be two registers of -unemployed, and he suggested that the Trades Hall authorities, who frequently would have more information than the Labour Department, should keep in close touch with the department, which, he was sure, would be only too pleased to receive recommendations.

ALIEN PREFERENCE ALLEGED.

Wellington, Laet Night. A deputation from the Wellington labour unemployment committee met the Premier, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, today to stress the urgency of the unemployment situation. Mr. A. Cook, chairman of the committee, in the course of a statement, said that 50 to 70 of the men engaged on the Public Works contract at Mangahao were Italians. Mr. Coates expressed surprise, and asked where they came from. Mr. Cook said they had been drifting into the positions for months past. Many New Zealanders had been put off tlio works during the past week but no Italians. He did not contend that the Italians should be dismissed, but he contended that they should not have preference. Mr. Coates: Certainly not. Mr. Cook also said that twelve men had been put off at Mokau and unemployed put on in their place. Mr. Coates denied that absolutely. He said: The number of men has actually been increased. My concern has been to keep these men going and certainly not to sack them and put others on. Mr. Cook said he might have been misinformed, but he was sure of the facts regarding Mangahao. Mr. Coates, replying on the general question, said that as far as was huirnmly possible, the Government would join with the Labour organisations in overcoming the present trouble. His one thought was that all should put- their shoulders to the wheel. The matter was now being dealt with by a conference and he hoped that the legislation which he would bring before Parliament w-ould result in a lot of the trouble being rapidly got rid of. He could not agree to the Public Works being used for unemployment relief. That would be going back to the ‘'good old days.”