UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5142, 22 June 1927, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT.

Sir —The Borough Council has decided to make an appeal for funds towards making the proposed children’s playground at the old railway station site. If the appeal is made with a view to obtaining Government assistance for a worthy object, and at the same time provide work for. even a few unemployed, it is well worthy of support. If, however, the Government intends to carry on this method of raising money for the relief of unemployment on a large scale, then the time has arrived to place the whole question of unemployment upon the shoulders of those whose duty it is to atttend to all matters affecting the welfare of this Dominion. I mean the Parliament and Cabinet of New Zealand. The policy of the Government during the last six years of inducing thousands of emigrants to come to this Dominion without adequate provision for their absorption in our primary and secondary industries is directly the cause of the present unemployment. Even if this intention is Open to criticism, the fact remains that the present widespread unemployment is a national calamity, and calls for the same efforts that were made during the Great War. The Government did not then hesitate to commandeer men and money. It can do the same to-day if it possesses the necessary courage. The fact that hundreds of men, women, and children of our own race and blood are starving, or on the verge of starvation, owing to the breadwinner being out of work should surely prompt our Government to any and every measure necessary. As a New Zealander I contend that even under the presnt chaotic conditions no woman or child should wa.nt for. food. The attempt to leave this prob-, lem to the whims and inclinations of voluntary subscriptions is not statesmanship. The calls on this source for purely local matters will be quite heavy enough. FAIR DEAL.