DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1923, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEG It A VII —l’ ER PRESS ASSOCIATION, j

DEPUTATION to MR MASSEY. WELLINGTON. July 2. A deputation representing the unemployed waited on Mr Massey and ’tji&r Ministers of Labour and Public Woik4iK. Mr Massey said that he was glad the number of unemployed in New Zealand was only half that of a year ago. The Government was fully alive to the position and would do what it could to relieve it. Mr CAatcs promised to provide work for at least 8(1 men immediate! v. Several speakcis described their inability t-> find work, though they had tried in many places. Mr Wright (Mayor) said that many of the unemployed wore retrenched Government servants. Immigrants had accentuated the trouble. ’I he City Council had to increase its rates and had no surplus funds for relief. It had not retrenched. Mr P. Eraser said that the Public aWorks’ rate of 12s was not sufficient . for married men. Two hundred and thirteen unemployed were registered in Wellington last week, with 400 dependent children. Mr \V. E. Parry, drew attention to the fitness of the deputation for any class of hard work. Sir J. l.uko said that he was surprised at their character. No doubt the immigration policy teffectod on the situation owing to the arrival ol nominated men during the slump. Mr 11. T. Armstrong described the position in Chi istehureh and enlarged upon the plight of the men engaged in seasonal occupations.

Mr Read, president of the Trades and Labour Council, urged the development of secondary industries, because New Zealand regularly had unemployment i:i winter. The readiest schemo to absorb unemployed was forestry work, as for example, the town holt and otherwise useless land round Wel-

lington. Mr Massey said that the Government had IjOi'o men oil public works and the numlior always increased in winter, last winter a- million was spent. In winter unemployment was always likely, w...,e the country depended on primary industries. There was room for every man to work. A voice: Room, hut no work for them. The greatest difficulty was with the eletical men and partially disabled, who must have preference. There would ho plenty of work if tho Housing Bill could he got through. INFLUENZA SPREADING. £ CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. P No further cases of pneumonic influenza were reported to the District Health Officer to-dav. but. according to Dr Telford, liter,, are indications that simple influenza is spreading in the while of Canterbury and Westland health district. There are 13 pneumonic eases and one death has been reported. The position is not regarded as serious, hut precautionary measures have been taken l»v tho Health Department.

The school attendances continue to be affected. At St Andrew’s College 3t) ]>er cent, of the pupils are absent, through influenza. At tho Christchurch Technical College, not fewer than 170 pupils are away, and at Christ’s College and the Boys’ High School, a fatrlv large number of boys are away. The Lyttelton School reopened this morning.' after having been closed for •i week, owing to mild influenza. 1 nder instructions from th c . Health Department. however, the school was closed again, over 100 pupils being absent.