AN UGLY OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1933, Page 8

AN UGLY OUTLOOK

LABOUR PREDICTS TROUBLE. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. WELLINGTON, March 7." The possibility-' of':' disturbances among the unemployed this' winter unless; the Government undertakes more comprehensive plans , for relief was suggested by the Leader of the Opposition'dri the'House to-day, and produced a strong retort'-from the Prime - Minister, who accused the Opposition 1 : cf creating an atmosphere which led to such trouble. • ■ Mr Holland declared 1 that New Zealand’s position, : having fegard toV'its ; relative population, was just as des- : perate as that of the ■ United States, for.lie believed we had at least 120,000 : men, women and young people unemployed. “I" dread this winter,” he 'continued, “and 1 say to the Minister : and the Government that the uneni- . ployed are’- not ‘going 'quietly to' take the situation as it exists, and no member of this House would take it„qpiep . ly- if he - saw his women arid children starving with plenty around and only incompetence on the.part of those in control to make, provision for work when they want to work, and receive adequate payment, for the work.”. He declared that with land waiting to be brought into production, ecq.nomic railways to be built, main highways deteriorating,' secondary highways in the same position, arid rural areas un? road ad, therq/.-wap . immense scope for employment; u Hej..,demanded iof the Minister of Unemployment-to tell the House how seventy to eighty thousand men and their dependents were going to live on an average of less than £1 a we,ok. He must knew that this was utterly impossible, and there .riever.. was so much danger of disturbance throughout New. .Zealand as at present.

“It seems that the attitude of the Government is. .that nothing - will lie done until the disturbances gome,” he said. “It would be far, better, to put a fence at the top ..of -.the .cliff -than ambulance at the bottom. x „

NOTHING PRACTICAL. The Prime Minister . (jVIi: Forbes) spoke immediately afterwards, deplpr-. j ing the failure of the Leader of the. Opposition to provide anything pra#'; itioa-1, his solution, being . merely words';? The Minister of Employment, by prudent administration, showed a desire to -do something, •.extra.-vinthe winter months. Four millions sterling was being provided, ard what the Leader, of- tho Opposition - demanded meant double that amount,. .which could.,, only,come - t from .taxation,' “These very references to disorder,” ■ continued"Mr Forbes, ‘‘are an'.K-en-couragement to disorder— r this,, com tin ua 1 reiteration of‘Who will, stand \ that?’ and.‘No,reasonable person cop,ld. stand this without breaking ..sodtvf’ifc : Mr Holland:;Do-,you-suggest that I should adyiso; them quietly-,to istarve ? NOT A SOLUTION. . : Mr Forbest: To suggest .disorder is not a solution of .the .p£es,enb<.-trouble.; To«tell .people, who. undoubtedly., have put up with,.a .great, deal,of. hardship that their way out, is to break out and. make a -row, getting into .conflict With authority, :is the. .worst advice to giye. ■ It means that, you expect .and, are, looking for ,an .outbreak,- ■ Mr, Forbes added .-that as soon as the session ended Cabinet would com suit th.e Unemployment Board, in.-. a round table, disc,ussiourio see what im* provement could; be.; made -in.regard to the. method ~of. distribution, of ..unemployment funds. ~l ON A VOLCANO. Mr H. T. Armstrong said many Christcburcluf.jp sy,omen and.„ children would have starved ...had , they had to rply on ~wliatuthey, received from the Unemployment Board. ’ . , Mr,.Baruard : ATt’s not all confined to Christ church . . , Mr. Armstrong said he wanted to protest ; .against the Unemployment Ro,ard taking back over £3ooo.in three weeks. It might-be - said ‘tlie local bodies could not supply work and accordingly the money was sent ~ , back. There were .700 married men on, half rations • in Christchurch... That, city had paid its share of the unemplovr went tax end that money belonged to Christchurch.; Mr Hamilton: Who do you blame? Mr Armstrong :■ The Unemployment Bocrd and its officers-in Christchurch-.: He hoped there would be no lawless- I ness, but he.-warned Mr- Forbes and the Government - that. they were sit-, ting on a- volcano. . ,He complained of the Uiiomploynient Fund being . used to maintain the Labour. Department, the 'Railway Department and ■ other Government departments. The cost of running ,tho Unemployment Board was. tqo. high. , •; .'■ f