The Hutt News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1929. UNEMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 35, 7 February 1929, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1929. UNEMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

Two pronouncements of more than or-, dinary interest were made by Sir Joseph Ward last week when he made clear the Government's intentiori^regarding unemployment and immigration. That unemployment exists to a marked extent at the present time is very disquieting, particularly when we bear in mind that seasonal forms of employment are, during the summer, at full pressure. One wonders what the conditions would be next winter when many hundreds of men cease to follow such avenues of work and all too frequently swell the ranks of the .unemployed. Sir Joseph Ward made it quite clear that the Government is alive to the position and is prepared to absorb a large amount of labour on public works. This is one/ of the" first fruits of his borrowing policy and the ease with which many millions were raised on the London money market must -produce a -feeling of pride throughout the Dominion that our credit stands so high.in. the financial world. But the Prime Minister made it clear that the Government's policy for dealing with unemployment must be fully backed by Local Bodies and particularly by the various Highway Boards-. While much has been done on some of our main highways near the cities there are many miles that could and should be put down in permanent surface this summer and this, if done would be a means of relief to some at least of the present unemployed. The difference in cost of maintainence between the old macadamised road and the modern toad with its bitumen, or tar penetration, is so greatly in favour of the bitumen that one wonders why in the interests of ratepayers the Highways Boards have not pursued a more rigorous policy of works. D«aling with immigration Sir Joseph Ward was quite outspoken. His reply to the Mother Country made it quite plain tha>t while we realized our responsibilities as a part of the Empire we were not in a position,. at present, to embark on'a policy pf immigration, that we could not find full employment for all our own people. This most courteous, but outspoken reply, will give very general satisfaction. During the progress of the last election campaign denunciation of the late administration's wide immigration policy was heard and recorded from many platforms and cases are on record of persons and even families who came out as irnmi-v grants and who nominally at least .were sure of settled employment, being a charge on our Charitable Aid Boards. While there are openings for the "man on the land" and there is land awaiting settlement and development, we would welcome the right type of small farmer, we cannot, as the Prime Minister pointed out, open our doors at the present time without restrietoins to the class of people who would but tend to flood our labour markets. Before that can be done we must provide for the present unemployed —not at a low Tate of pay, but at a genuine living wage—and we must pursue a vigorous policy of still further providing homes as there is still an acute shortage of houses. There seems to be no doubt whatever that these two big questions will be sympathetically and adequately dealt with with the least possible

delay.