THE PRIME MINISTER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18285, 7 June 1929, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER.

ENTERTAINED AT AUCKLAND. By Telegraph —Press AssociationAUCKLAND, June 6. Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at luncheon by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at the . Town Hall, when three hundred guest 3 were present. In the course of a speech, Sir Joseph Ward said that New Zealand must look for fresh markets for her produce, and he hoped that next year the Government would be able to announce that it had been able to ensure steamer connection with the East, and he commented on the desirability of the expeditious completion of the Auckland, Taranaki line of railway. UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 6. In his reply to the unemployment deputation to-day, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, said that, as Leader of the Government, he was anxious to do all in his power to help the unemployed, and he had already authorised £140,000 of Government supplementary funds to subsidise work, and this was a larger amount than had ever been authorised by the Government in New Zealand. Some little time ago, he had made it public, that the amount of £25,000 was available for the Auckland City Council for a scheme of new works as a means of relieving local unemployment. That amount of money was still available, but as far as he could judge, no action had been initiated with a view to taking advantage of the offer, although other centres, such as Wellington and Christchurch, had accepted assistance of that nature. The Government had provided a large amount of relief work, both on railway construction and on public works, and there were more than two and a-half times as many men so employed in the North Island, as compared with the Soilth Island, and they were prepared to put on 5000 or 6000 extra men on railway works. Sir Joseph again expressed surprise that the City Council had not taken advantage of the offer which had been made, and he said he would get into touch with the manager and Corporation, with a view to seeing what could be done in the matter. Public Accounts. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the deficit in the Public Accounts, and pointed out that every effort must be made to turn it into a surplus, and every facility must be given to trade to expand. He hoped that, within the next year, the Government would find itself in the position of being able to ensure steamer communication between New Zealand and the East. There was a market waiting in the East for New Zealand produce. such as meat, to eat which the people of those parts had now been educated, and New Zealand must look around for fresh markets for its produce. Railway Policy. Speaking of the Railways, Sir Joseph defended his policy of pushing on with the South Island Main Trunk, and he pointed out the necessity for having through and quick communication from one end of the country to the other, for, after all, he said, New Zealand was one whole, and not split up by the width of the Straits. The Prime Minister also spoke of expediting the Taranaki-Auckland line, which would save days of travel between those two districts, and the line would give an outlet for coal that would not be suspected at the present time.