WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CONTINUED UNEMPLOYMENT.

Ml! SEMPLE AND WELFARE LEAGUE. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, May 14. The New Zealand "Welfare League, which always is jealous for the good name of Reform, took Mr Robert Semple to task to the length of half-a-column of print in Saturday’s “Evening Post” for having attributed the continued unemployment throughout the Dominion to the Government’s promiscuous immigration policy. Mr Semple, it seems, in one of his fervid speeches, had declared that 84,824 immigrants hail been brought to New Zealand during the previous six year: and had implied that this excessive supply of labour had been brought about by the flowery language of cor tain pamphlets issued from the High Commissioner’s office in London. 4 lit actual number of immigrants to the Dominion during the six years, it seems, was only 72,403, so that Nit Semple had exaggerated the arrival:by some 2000 a year. This,- of course was a very grave slip on the part ol the Labour leader, but the fact remaim that at the very time the Welfare League was preparing its thunder i deputation representing a great body of men out of employment was waitint upon ihe Mayor and receiving his Iran!sympathy. , THE UNITED PARTY.

Though the United Political Party still is without a leader and without r policy, its prospects for the approach ing general election seem to have con siderably improved during the last week or two. No one is expecting the party to secure a majority at the polls but people who were treating its presence in the field with derision a fortnight ago are no longer laughing at the suggestion that in a three party eon test it may be placed in a position to decide the fate of the Government. The party appears to have been fortu nate in the candidates that have espoused its cause in Dunedin and Auckland, and. according to its executive’s reports, it will he well served in Wellington and 'Christchurch. Alone the West Coast of the North Island there are signs of a pronounced Libera, revival, which, it is assumed, may he regarded as a “ United ” gain, sine Liberalism of the old order lias cease to be :ui Motive force. 1 Labour secures the twenty-five, scat: it is promising itself the possession o; the Treasury benches again w ill he om a matter of finesse. GOVERNMENT’S: ACTIVITIES. The Prime Minister’s week end vis' to the North is believed to lie in con licet ion with party matters that an not running altogether smoothly there Auckland has not been serving Return particularly well during the last yea or so—as witness the by-elections at Eden ami Raglan, and the “ indepen deuce” ol Waitomala and Koskill—am it looks as if the master mind were re (jiiired to bring it into harmony will the existing Administration. The com mereinl section ol the community, especially', has been assert ing. a mens ure of “independence” which won’t he positively alarming were there unacceptable alternative to Reform. On of the positive grievances the businesmen of the “(jueen ( ity” have agains. Reform is the lailuro of the Govern incut to give cliert to Mr Coates slogan of “ Less Government in hiisi ness and more business in Govern nteiTl.” It is suspected that the Pi urn Minister has gone North largely to the purpose ol allaying the local mis givings in this respect, and to make his peace with the disgruntled constit ucneies and the aggrieved members o bis somewhat tin wieldly party. E.M PI I! E *l>U! I.DING.

Everyone* will be glad to learn Irom

■ I’,i it.isli f.Miicia! \\*ii (!li.'s." published in tlie newspapers litis morning Hull Sir Joseph Wiinl Inis reached Knglam safely and is discussing Imperial affairs with his accustomed entlmsiasin. Hut it makes one a little septical concerning the value of some ol the news eahletl from the Old Country to read that Si Joseph is advocate up; the constitution of an Empire Parliament, meeting regularly in different parts ol the Empire, in which New Zealand and South Africa, each would have one or two representatives, Australia and ( auada each four or six, and Great Hritain a maojritv over all.” Sir Joseph is an ardent Imperialist, of the most practical kind, and always has urged the closest possible relations between Hi itnin and the outlying portions of the Empire; but he never has been guilty of such a suggestion as the one attributed to him. An Imperial Parliament, constituted in the fashion the cable implies would serve neither the Motliei Country nor satisfy the ambitions ol the Dominions. The Imperial Conference will serve their purposes for many vears to come.. ......