THE UNEMPLOYED

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 1, 26 September 1921, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED

ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM RETURNED SOLDIERS’ SCHEME . HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT The unemployment problsln and its solution were discussed by the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association yes- , terday morning. “ Mr. C. W. Batten stated that Mr. R. B. Bell himself had considered the unemployment question, and had searched for a work, that would solve the diihculty. Th4y had suggested that the hydro-electrio power schemes m JNew Zealand should be pushed on. If this was agreed to by the Government 1200 unemployed could be placed tn woi '• A sum of d 11,000,000 would have to be raised. The matter sad been brought under the notice of the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir Branch Bell), but he would snot agree to take it up. If Mr. Massey had been in New- Zealand he thought the Government would have gone on . with it. There was no question of relief' wages in connection with this. The country wanted these schemes pushed on and it would be a sound proposition in’ every way. The committee found that the local associations wanted more in the nature of small local schemes to relieve unemployment, and, therefore, tlie hydro-electric scheme was not proceeded with by the on account of the differences of opinion that existed in regard to it. Thu chairman (Sir Andrew Russell): I hope very sincerely that you will go on with P l e scheme, for it is one of the Mr. Bell said that he was pleased that the scheme met with approval. If Mr. Massey had been in the country he was sure it would have been taken up. Tho Minister of Public Works was very keen, but the Acting-Prime Minister said it would have to wait. Next year he thought . tho position regarding unemployment would be worse. If empowered to go on, the committee would do bo. Mr. Smith eaid that he was not in the least hopeful that the scheme would be taken, un when Mr. Massey returned. Mr. W. B. Leadley said his branch believed that if all would co-operate, together work could be found for .those out of employment. The Canterbury Association waited on local bodies and asked them to put in hand necessary works, and 100 out of 200 unemployed men had been placed. ft they could get hold of a big Dominion scheme like the one outlined, they should push it for all they wefe north. If they could get live men to work they would solve the problem. They could do> so if tne Government put urgent works in hand. The chairman said that they wanted to induce people to save. A man who saved £1 a week was a benefactor to the country. Even if he only saved 6d. it waa assisting, the Dominion. There was r only one way in which they could reduce the cost of living, and that was by increasing production by greater efficiency. The average efficiency of this country was about 75 per cent., but if they could get people .to ‘realise that they could build five houses where previously they only built four houses without reducing wages, they _ would bring rents down wholesale, besides reducing the cost of everything else. They wanted better work, and instead of looking at the weather they should study the clock, thereby Increasing production. He felt that the hydro-electric scheme was a sound one. They should save their muscle by using the natural resources at their command. Ho was glad that the oxooufive was in favour of the schema.

Mr. T. W. M'Donald endorsed the ...chairman's remarks. He said that if production was to be increased ft would mea>n half-time employment in some industries, and he mentioned tho coal trado as an example. However, the principles enunciated by tho chairman were sound. The chairman said that it would evon-

finally resolve itself into trades going in for* unjsm.plroymf>n.t insurance. If the executive endorsed the principle contained in Mr. Batten's proposals for proceeding with hydro-electrio works, and did not find the first , hurdle too big to get over, then they could pass a resolution- toThat effect at once. Mr. T. Long wanted to know, if produbtion was increased, how markets wore to bo found. There would be ho use, he said, in increasing production for the purpose of filling up their warehouses with merchandise unless it could be disposed of. . They would only accentuate Mio unemployed problem. He did not think the Government was doing its fair share regarding trade with islands in tho Pacific. There was a worse steadier trade between Naw Zealand and the Islands to-day than 20 years ago, and in consequence trade was going to Australia and America that tho Dominion should get. In Samoa, America had a very large portion of the trade. Mr. Bell moved: "That tho report of Mr. Batten be approved, and that a committee consisting! of Sir Andrew Bussell. Messrs. Batten (convener), Smith, and the mover, together with such experts as tho committee may decide, be requested to further elaborate the scheme reported on and urge its acceptance by the Prime Minister and Cabinet." The motion wan carried, ami it was ngreed, on the suggestion of the chairman, that the report bo submitted confidentially to members of thq executive befoi-e the Prime Minister was approach-' REGISTRATIONS” INCREASE SIXTY-I'OCR MEN NOW ON CITY WORKS. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright) stated at tho week-end that up till -noon on Saturday 298 mon had registered with tho City Council as 'applicants for relief work. Of these, 43 had been placed on tho Brooklyn-Vogeltown Road jcb. six on tho Hutt Road (clearing the land slips awayj, thirteen at Northland, and two on corporation maintenance work. Mr. Wright explained, in respect to tho Hutt Bead job, that more men could not be engaged in that work until additional transport was provided. I’our mo'or and steam trucko had been in action during tho past week, and about a third of tho slip nearest town had been cleared away and dumped into the harbour at Thorndon. Not so much progress had been mode at Rocky Point, blit Arrangements had been made to use a tip on private property at Paparangi Point, not far from the slip. It was hoprd that two more trucks would be available for the work this week, which should see the bulk of the 'big rarthspilla cleared away. It was 'hoped, too, to put come men at work on the Evans Bay Road (near tho patent slip) this wt-ok. This was Included in one of the loan proposals. As some of the money was available a start could bo made there as soon as circumstances permitted. Ou lining asked why so many registrations were accepted and so fow mon employed. Mr. Wright said thht tho council bad to go slow, as there was not a great deal of money for the unemployed. end it was desirable that -those engaged should be employed tn tho best advantage. At present, all else being equal, the number of dependants was When into consideration in selecting the men. They were also pieced on jobs nearest their homes to save time and transjiort expanses. The number of unemployed to bo given work would be increased this week.