NEW ZEALAND

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1928, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND

THE PRIME MINISTER’S OPINION. Although the position is by no means acute, the prevalence of unemployment in New Zealand cannot be doubted., Advocates,,of prohibition tell us, that if their pet scheme became law, the twenty odd thousand people in the New Zealand licensed , trade would quickly be “absorbed by other industries.” They fait 'to tell us what these industries are, and how it will be done, and when. The fact is, that if prohibition were carried, another twenty thousand at least would.’ be added to our numbers of unemployed at the beginning of next winter. Who is to look after their wives and families?

In America, despite prohibition, there are more unemployed to-day than there were in the slump period of 1920-21, and 1,874,050 more than there were in 1925, according to a report by the U.S. Senate made by the Secretary of Labour, Mr J. J. Davis, and published in the “Dominion” on 28th March last. The Prime Minister, Air Coates, speaking at Wellington on June 14th, 1928, pointed out that whereas in the United States of America there were at least 1 in 60 unemployed, in New •Zealand '.(under continuance) - ( the figures were 1 in 300 at the outside. Thus New Zealand was five times better off than the United States- of America. 4