UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT.

RELIEF REQUESTED.

deputation to ministers. U'RESS ASSOCIATION TELECrKAM.) WELLINGTON, November 21. The plight of the unemployed was brought under the notice of the Government this afternoon by a deputation representing the Wellington Unemployed Committee. The speakers emphasised the need for finding employment for those out of work before the Christmas season, and pointed to the danger that existed that the appointment of the Unemployment Board would lead to a slackening of effort, on the part of local bodies and private employers. . The deputation, which was received by the Attorney-General, Sir A. T. Ngata, the Minister for Public Works, and the Minister for Agriculture, comprised about 250 persons. They were introduced by Mr R. Semple, M.P., who said thev realised the tremendous responsibility of the Government in the matter of unemployment, and, while they did not wish to embarrass the Government, they urged that still more action should be taken. It was estimated that there were from 1500 to 2000 unemployed in Wellington, though tlio registrations might not show so many. Position Becoming Worse. The principal spokesman for the deputation was the president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, Mr W. Bromley, who is to be a member of the Unemployment Board. He said that, contrary to the expectations of everybody that with the approach of summer there would be plenty of work, unemployment was increasing instead of decreasing. There were two main reasons for that. One was the termination of relief works in the city and the country, and the other was the sublime faith that was being engendered in the Unemployment Act and the work that the Board would undertake. If the Board was to be a success it would need to have the co-operation of the Government. local bodies, every employer or labour, and every citizen. Every worker who was suffering the tragedy of unemployment had the right to expect that co-operation. Not only had the worker that right, but he had the right to expect the co-operation of every Trade Union official who, by the pennies of the workers, was being kept from the dangers of unemployment. Any Trades Union official who refused to "lend that assistance would surely bring the condemnation of the workers upon himself. Mr Bromley suggested that in view of the approach of Christmas a determined effort should be made to put the maximum number of men into work. If there was a generous response to such appeals the lot of many workers and their dependents would be made much lighter during the Christmas season. The secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr F. D. Cornwell, said that the Government had started the Unemployment Board's fund with £IOO,OOO, and he considered this should be used immediately for relief purposes. Single men were in urgent need of help. Mr T. Brindle, a member .of the National Executive of the New Zealand Labour Party, said there was no n«e_d for people to be turned out of their homes, as was happening. A member of the deputation gave illustrations of distress existing at the present time. This morning 604 men had attended the' Lalbour Bureau, and only one had got a job. Problem of Pinan.ee. Sit- A. T. Ngata said the Government recognised that the situation was most difficult. The question of finance was also difficult. The Government was doing its best within limits to deal with the problem. He read a letter from the Mayor of Wellington in which Mr Troup said the City Council had at least £27,000 in hand which would be avail- j able for expenditure shortly. He suggested that a small committee be _ set up immediately to confer with Cabinet on Monday in order to see whetlier something could be done in the next few days. The committee could include local members of Parliament and representatives of local bodies. It had been suggested that' the & 100,000 voted to the Unemployment Board should be used by the Government for immediate relief, but there might be legal obstacles to such a course. The Government would stretch the finances to the limit to keep men working. In a few weeks it was hoped to announce the taking over of lands for development. It was hoped to start that before Christmas, but they would not be able to engage many un- . employed for some little time. It was hoped to divert a certain number of men to land development' as a permanent solution of unemployment. He referred to the need for people sacrificing some of the luxuries of life in order to enable the present position to be met. Public Works Expenditure. The Minister for Public Works said he was fully alive to the seriousness of the position. At the present time 17,000 men were being employed by the Public Works Department, and were costing on all charges, including interest on loans, &1 a day a man. The Government was making a big effort to eope with the problem. The fact that the Unemployment Board had beon established would in no way affect the activity of the Government so far as the available finances would permit. He hoped the next few months would see a great improvement in the position. He had that day arranged for the employment of 200 men in Stratford and Nelson, but it would be a long time before work could be provided on Wellington's new railway station.

ELECTION OF BOARD. ATTITUDE OF TRADES COUNCIL ENDORSED. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 21. The action of the executive of the "Wellington Trades and Labour Council in expressing opposition to the attitude taken up by the New Zealand Alliance of Labour towards the Unemployment Act was endorsed at a meeting of the Council this evening. It is understood that there were about forty delegates present, and that the decision was almost unanimous. A motion was also passed (with one dissentient voice, it is understood), congratulating Mr Walter Bromley, president of the Council, on his appointment to the Unemployment Board. Mr Bromley, the motion ran, has taken an active and prominent part in every effort locally to deal with this problem. He possesses both courage and ability, and will receive the support of every trade unionist imbued with a desire to assist the unemployed. The action of the Council in endorsing practically unanimously the action of the executive, is regarded as of great importance by representatives of trades unions, particularly craft unions, as it indicates that there is a genuine desire to break away from the Alliance of Labour. It was stated by