THE UNEMPLOYED.

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1927, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED.

AND ROYAL VISIT. —_ Labour Mayor’s Advice. NOT TO CONFUSE THE TWO. CimiSTCiri'RCir, Ikbrimry 18. The LAbour Mayor of Christchurch. Rev. J. K. Archer, told a deputation representing the unemployed to-day that they were making the same mistake in confusing the unemployment issue with the visit of the 'Duke and Duchess! of York as the other unemployed leaders had made in confusing unemployment with Communism. Mr Hills, a. member of the deputation, said that he was a loyal British subject, but he disagreed with the proposed expenditure upon the entertainment of the Royal visitors when there was so much unemployment and distress. The Mayor replied that the Duke and Duchess were coming as guests of the Dominion, and that 95 per cent, of the residents of Christchurch wished to extend generous hospitality to the Royal visitors. The people and the local bodies 'who had subscribed the money to entertain the Royal visitors would lie no less generous to the unemployed on that account. AUCKLAND DEMONSTRATION. AUCKLAND, Feb. 18. The permission of the City Council to use the Civic. Square site to hold n demonstration of unemployed next Wednesday at noon, the second day of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York was sought last, evening by the Auckland Trades and Labour Council. “ I move that the request be declined and that the applicants be recommended to hold their demonstration on the following Saturday.” said the Maybr- (Mr Bail don).

Cr. Phelan said the demonstration was regarded very seriously by the unemployed. It was being arranged with a view to impressing on the Government the seriousness of the position. Cr. Bennet suggested it would be discourteous if the demonstration were held while the Duke and Duchess were in the city.

The motion of the Mayor was car tied.

Immigration to Stop.

RESULT OF DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

AUCKLAND, February 18. A large deputation which waited on the Prime Minister in regard to unemployment this afternoon, urged that the situation throughout the country was serious. It was stated that in Auckland province alone four thousand men were out of work.

One speaker said they had no objection to immigrants. Many of the deputation had themselves been immigrants, but it was no time for immigration v.-!■ u the country was in such a bad way. There were one thousand timber workers unemployed. Various suggestions were made foi relieving the situation. THE REPLY.

Replying, Mr Coates said he had made certain suggestions to the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Public Works for bettering the situation, and he hoped to make these public in a few days; The reason New Zealand found itself in the present posi-’ tion was purely economic. ‘‘l admit,” h“ said, ‘‘migration has a direct bearing on the number who find employment. It has been decided that from. May, we will cut out all immigration for four or five months. If it is found then that the economic situation is more hopeful, the scheme will be returned., but- if the position is no better, it will be further withheld.” At the same time he disputed the statement that men in New Zealand were being replaced by the immigrants. He knew of an instance where there were 850 positions vacant, in the country, and for these there were but ton applicants. Those positions had, therefore, to be filled by immigrants. The future, ho believed, was very hopeful.