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Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1930, Page 4

Ttrrc nll-siipronic* quest im ol dealing efrectively with unemployment remains a constant matter for dismission, and

a satisfactory conclusion remains also as far oil as ever. 'I he report of the Lneniploymenb Committee has had a mixed reception. Jf began on the premises that the condition was incurable, and suggested palliatives as a means of reducing the pressure Lorn the economic evil. In the course of tiie very free tmb ism wlii.h inns been passed on thal leport, the most definite statement on the subject we have read, reads as follows: “The only remedy lor the evil of unemployment is to line! productive work lor those now idle, and work that will produce wealth in its most valuable form—in finished articles and manufactured goods which are mow made for us by the busy workers of other countries.” This shotlciit to hotter times reads well, but il does not allow for the dili'ciemc in labour and social conditions as uolwccii rlio Dominion rmd the “other countries.” If New Zealand were on the same level of production as “other countries,” and lived down (shall we say) to their standard, the proposition would be easy of accomplishment. But there are conditions and hours of lahour, and the matter of tariffs, and the question of freights, all to lie taken into account, anil in that light the matter is not so easy of adjustment, for the difficulty would he to compete in price with the imported goods from “other countries,’’ which so oflen find favour because of price. ’ New Zealand has proved so great a producer in pastoral products, and the land yield is such a potent factor in the wealth created, that it is rather to the primary than the secondary industries that the country must look for the speediest return. And the return must come quickly if the present evils of unemployment are to he allayed. 1 here is a great area of idle lands in New Zealand. We hear from time to time about what is being done in the North Island in bringing the class of la net in mind into profit, but very little about utilising idle lands in the South Island. On this Coast and in Westland in particular, there are great areas of Grown lands lying waste From the knowledge already acquired of Crown lands here, there are many tracts of country which could he brought into permanent production by the expenditure for proper treatment. Huge sums are paid out annually now for “relief” work which is merely temporary work, and lias only the transitory value of meeting the Immediate wants of the workmen. Better he should be employed assisting to bring an area into reproduction for successive seasons, and a crusade in tha' direction would be worth while. The Government! is moving as fast as Fund* will permit with land settlement schemes but the improvement of Crown Lands in another category, and in that- respect there is a field and scope for an important forward move to nice* the unemployment situation with greater success.