UNEMPLOYMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10314, 25 January 1927, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT

MR. HOLLAND BUSY. GOVERNMENT-APPROACHED. WESTPORT, Jan. 24. During the past few days Mr. H. Holland, leader of the. Opposition, lias received communications from Dunedin and other centres stating that unemployment is,acute and asking for his co-operation in making representations to the Government. Mr. Holland has now written to the acting Prime Minister urging that for the purpose of coping with the problem a number of necessary public works in various parts of the Dominion be put in hand at once; also suggesting .that in view of the present situation with such a large number of men unemployed here the Government should reconsider its immigration policy. Mr. Holland points out that under the present conditions the stream of immigration must of necessity contribute towards the creation of an army of unemployed. In another communication to the acting Prime Minister, Mr. Holland has drawn attention to the fact that there are still more than 5(1 men unemployed in the town of Westport, and so far nothing has been done in the way of starting public works, which the Government long since stated would be proceeded with seriously. Mr. Holland points out that it is more' than a month since the Government made definite promises that the harbor walls would be commenced immediately. He points out that all the married men in the local unemployed could be absorbed on the harbor works alone if the Government’s promises were adhered to. He further urges that at least 30 men could be placed on the coast road, and 200 on the Westport-Inangahua section of the Buller Gorge railway.— P.A.