UNEMPLOYMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16405, 20 April 1921, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT.

FACING THE POSITION. GOVERNMENT'S PLANS. [Per Press Association.l WELLINGTON, April 20. A deputation from the Central Progress League and the Returned Solfliers’ Association waited on Sir Frnnj cis Bell and the Hon C. J. Anderson to-day regarding unemployment. The deputation said the position was not alarming at present, but should be dealt with before it became acute, and suggested that returned soldiers should receive preference in government departments and should not be dismissed now. In the interests of economy a plan should be prepared so that works to absorb unemployed labour should lie remunerative, and not merely for the purpose of giving relief. Sir Francis Bell said that immigration was stopped for some time, except for persons whose passages were paid by employers or relatives in New Zealand, who guaranteed to find employment. for them also. It had not been possible to stop at once the immigration of a number of Imperial soldiers and their families, whom the Imperial Government had asked should be received. Returned soldiers were in a different position from other unemploved, as the Repatriation Department still had funds for the purpose of assisting them. The Government statement that soldiers would not be allowed to want still held good but in carrying out that promise the Government had also to consider the position of men who might be displaced, and could not get other work. The Government was not going to be merciless. Arrangements had been made and were being made, to prevent distress in the countrj*. so far as possible. The Government had not money enough to provide local bodies with funds, as had been suggested, so that they might carry on works. In ordinary times funds were available for the Public AYorks Fund out of the surplus of the Consolidated Fund, hut this year the Government had to keep the surplus to make good expected loss of revenue, so that Government services might be maintained. It was. however, as clear to the Government as to the deputation, that there must be sufficient money for Public Works to prevent poverty and hardship in the country. The difficulties were as serious as anv Government had ever had to face, but the Government would face them like men, and returned soldiers and others must regard the Government as agents in this matter, and doing their best.

The ”on f“ I Anderson caitl tlmf the Government for same months had been considering film position. Roports Iv-w'iVi-rl :x'lmxvml flmt tho pnsitiun \Vni: nut yet alarming. If it became worse he lmlim'ud their plans would he sufficis‘nt to mvof it. There was, linwevnr, an obligation on private porsons to assist. and not put off hands to increase the number of unomplnypd: while thoy had funds to keep them going.