UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19144, 29 October 1927, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT.

* ' CO-OPERATION WANTED. COMMERCIAL MEN'S DISCUSSION "That in view of the acute unemployment that has been in evidence of recent years this conference is of opinion that: —(a) There is need for closer co-operation between Government and local bodies, with a view to co-ordina-tion of public works policy in such a way that the amount of employment available might bo adjusted to the amount of labour offering (unempJoyables excepted), (b) There is need) for more careful regulation of the volume of assisted immigration; which should be easily capable of adjustment by the Labour and Immigration Departments (in consultation with the Government Statistician) in accordance with the absorption capacity of the Dominion for the time being." This remit was moved by Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland) at yesterday's session of the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. Mr Lunn said that the question of unemployment was not confined to any one country, even the United States being affected. He thought it was due to a large extent to Governmental and local body extravagances. He drew attention to 'the increase in the national and local bodies' indebtedness within recent years, also the increase of rates and taxes. What was wanted was the practice of thrift, as the country could not afford to carry on as it was now doing. The Government should take steps to deal with the question of the restriction of immigration. He nrgcd co-ordination between the Government and local bodies in the direction of projected works with a view to absorbing men in times of depression. Mr H. P. Caughey seconded the motion for the adoption of the remit. Mr H. F. Forster (Gisborne) maintained that the education system was responsible largely for unemployment. Tt turned out unskilled workers, who formed 95 per cent, of the unemployed. He advocated compulsory technical education, and claimed that protection had not raised prices in the implement-making industry in Australia. A protective tariff should be introduced. * Mr D. Sevmour (Hamilton) moved a comprehensive addition to the remit as follows:-"That the Government should make detailed enquiry into the nature and extent of unemployment in New Zealand, including enquiry into the number of invisible unemployed retained by employers on sympathetic grounds.'' ... , The remit was adopted with tne addition.