UNEMPLOYMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16810, 31 May 1926, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND. SCHEME OF BELIEF. 'Bv Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. A conference was held on Sunday to discuss unemployment. It was attended by the Premier, representatives of the City Council, the R.S.A., the N.Z. Natives' Association, the 11. and C.A. Board, Public Works and Labour Departments, Labour organisatons, and members of Parliament. , On Hie Premier's initiative, a resolution was carried to set up a central executive for the relief of unemployment, and make recommendations to the Central Relief Department, and Central Labour Bureau, all registrations for unemployment to be made witli the Labour Department. Mr Coatcs outlined the organisation which it was proposed to set up, and said a number of voluntary aid funds were being used. lie thought all funds should be pooled for concerted action, also funds which the Government might be asked to provide for reasonable requirements. The main thing was to know that the administration would be in the hands of men capable of handling it. Separate organisations could carry on their work under the direction of a small executive attached to the Labour Department, the executive collecting information. He considered the relief fund should be operated by the Charitable Aid Department of the Hospital Board. The City Council had agreed lo a course of action with regard to works, providing it obtained the sanction of Parliament. lie was prepared to have the sanction granted if the Auckland members of Parliament were agreeable. Private employers would ilnd room for a few extra hands, and the Farmers' Union would try to get sonic young men work in the country. A STATEMENT DENIED. IMMIGRANTS NOT WORKLESS., , WELLINGTON, Monday. Replying to statements made at Dunedin and New Plymouth that newly arrived immigrants arc workless and dependent upon charity, and that shop girls in. being displaced to make room for immigrants, Mr 11. D. Thompson, Under-Secretary to-the Immigration Department, denied the allegations. Re pointed out that 2000 assisted immigrants who arrived during the past fortnight all had homes to go to, and he could give the names and addresses thereof. He was prepared lo give a Hat denial to the statement about such people being unemployed and requiring charitable assistance.

Mr Thompson quoted an occasion some time ago when the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards made similar allegations, and inquiry elicited the fact that less than twenty such cases had been noted in the previous twelve months. To say in the present instance that "Hue poor devils arc living on charity" is uot only incorrect but misrepresentation. Mr Thomson added that Mr McManus, of Dunedin, to whom he was replying in this instance, had made statements dealing in wild generalities without one specifle instance of proof thereof. "If he can give any sucli instance the Department will investigate and give all the assistance needed." Mr Thomson pointed out also that the speeding up of immigration during the last month or two had been due to an effort to help the situation at Home, where, as an aftermath of tho seamen's strike, applications for assisted passages had piled up. Replying to statements by Mr Bartram, and quoted at New Plymouth, regarding Auckland rhop girls being displaced by immigrants, Mr Thomson said he knew for a fact that this was not correct so far as female immigrants were concerned. The Government specialised in domestic servants only, and such girls have to give an undertaking lo remain in the positions for twelve months. , K Mr Bartram's statement is correct it would show that the girls had broken their agreement.. Mr Bartram's attitude now was strangely at variance with the attitude he adopted three years ago, when he attacked the Department for requiring a girl who had broken her agreement in this manner to make good lhc passage money, or return to domestic employment. "Mr Bartram then look up the cudgels on the girl's behalf, and informed Mr Thomson that ho and other Labour M.'sP. had advised her not to refund or sign any agreement; in other words, these responsible public men advised the girl to llout the Department.