The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, JAN. 31,1928

Te Puke Times, 31 January 1928, Page 2

The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, JAN. 31,1928

WITH the close of the winter ; months and the approach of summer it was fully anticipated that the unemployment trouble would be, if not altogether a thing of the past, minimised to such an extent as to be almost negligible. Unfortunately however, these anticipations were not realised, for in each of the cities it is reported that those who have registered as being out of work number hundreds. In Auckland the total is put at 2000 in addition to many more who fail to give in their names. Furthermore, in the lastmentioned city, the soup kitchen still has to be kept going; and vve have the testimony of the Rev. Jasper Calder and other workers that conditions are pitiful, and that many families arc practically starving. It has been often asked why the men do not go into the country, and the statement has also been made that many prefer to hang about the city streets. A. certain percentage may, it is true, prefer to stay in the large towns, but on the other'band there are many who would-gladjy turn their hands to anything if they could only earn an honest : livelihood, Moreover, we doubt if the country districts could absorb more than they are doing. If wo take out* own district for example, how many of the farmers would be' able to take on extra hands ? Very few we venture to say. Then if the country cannot absorb them what are the unemployed to do ? New Zealand has no manufacturing industries, and is not likely to have any for a very- con* siderablo time, so this channel of employment is non-existent. The present trouble With regard to unemployment may be directly fcracod to the ill-advised policy of immigration that landed thousands of people on our shores, before the country was able to assimilate them, many with hardly a penny in their pockets. Then, again, the Dominion appears to he without a definite land settlement policy such as exists: in Canada and West Australia, and at the present prices of land it seems hopeless to expect immigrants with but a limited capital to embark on farming through the purchase of privately held holdings. JFhe problem is a most serious one, and it is little wonder that • the greathearted men and women who are at the head of the philanthropic movements in Auckland,, and elsewhere, aver that [they, look forward to next winter with dread. The matter will have to be dealt with by Parliament. It is absolutely futile to expect that local institutions suolr as the Auckland Charitable Aid Board should shoulder the responsibility of what is 'really a matter that affects the Dominion as a whole.