UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1928, Page 1

UNEMPLOYMENT

STATEMENT BY AIR COATES. WELLINGTON. Feb. 7. The Prime Minister, when interviewed by a representative of the “Lyttelton Times’’ on tlic* subject of unemployment. made an important statement showing that so far as Governmental responsibility for relief is concernied, the co-ordination of official efort lias been achieved, and the Auckland situation is now receiving attention.

“An officer who is devoting bis whole time to the question and a nlumber of the Prime Minister's Department who has had the handling of the unemployment question till along, is now in Auckland,” stated Mr Coates. “He will consult those concerned, and he has certain instructions which will enable the position to be relieved to some extent. If. in his opinion, it is necessary for me to visit Auckland, f intend to personally attend to tlic matter. The other centres are also being attended to.” Mr Coates was asked what progress had been made in bringing together all the factors in the State Departments cnnahlc of providing relief, and to what extent the programme had been developed. ••The difficulty.” he replied, “is l-luit our programmes have to he pushed ahead to assist the unemployed. 1 don’t think f will, al this stage, discuss Hhe actual nature ol the programme, for obvious reasons. We a ant to get everybody to assist in this national responsibility as far as practicable, and it needs attention in Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. Wanganui, Napier and Palmerston North, where there are unemployed, though the exact totals .1 am not prepared to state. I can only take what is reported to me by public men in these centres, and those actually registered at. Labour Offices. “The Government’s programme will he indicated its soon as we are in a position to state the extent of ordinated effort for assistance. 'lbis is a responsibility which rests on evervhodv's shoulders. 1 he (,o\ciument’s unemployment committee worked during till* recent holidays anti has dealt with all aspects.”

The Prime .Minister pointed out that the present situation is not peculiar to New Zealand. “Unemployment t s widopread due to the general economic depression, its a result of the gradual flattening out of world prices. I nder these conditions,’’ he continued, “the farmer cannot employ labour. Imu can he? He is struggling us he<t he can without outside help. His costs are still tit peak, while his returns are fluctuating. “But the farmer in N*'W Zealand was never better equipped in regard to knowledge and the aid ol scientific research. He has all those factors, and is applying them with labour without stint, for the farmer does no! worry about, the hours he works per day. He will pull through, however “His cost:-, of transportation and manufacturing- all the charges his pmdt.ee has to hear before it reaches the market—remain high. Ihe material he uses is high priced thoug-t so far as actual machinery is conccrnod I,v far the (hulk of it is free from Customs tax so far as the Empire is concerned."

Ml' C'oatl’K ooncliulc'tl ill II I'C-ilSslll-iug strain. “I" "f if i" declared ehoerlully. “our t:"m<Ts have undoubtedly made great progress in increasing podtution. 3 Ini'o Sl ' ( 'H many cases, where in 1919-1020, tlie returns amounted to £SOO with halter at half a crown, while these small places last year took £IOOO to £1250 and in one instance £ISOO, showing what, has been done by improved animal husbandry, increasing outputs per cow and improving the land. Tint with high costs, these farmers are still up against it. They do not mind hard work so long as they see some encouragement in future prospects, and r believe there are definite signs of a silver lining to the clouds.