UNEMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3792, 15 May 1928, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

MR, COATES INTERVIEWED. Auckland, May 12. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) arrived from Thames this morning and will go to Helensville on Monday. A deputation representing 28 trades unions waited on him regarding unemployment, which, Mr. M. J. Sapage, M.P., said was worse than two years ago, there being 1000 men registered with the La hour Department as unemployed. Every trade was represented in the unemployed lists.

Mr. E. Phelan said that 700 sawmill hands and 600 bushmen, making 1300 timber workers in all, were out of work, this being brought about by the importations of timber. People were starving in the city yet immigrants were still coming in by the shipload.

Mr. Coates said he denied definitely that there were whole shiploads of immigrants coming in. Those coming in were members of separated families. So far as records showed, the Government was unable to ascertain that they had interfered with the labour market. Perhaps a hard task master would say that no more should come, but the pleadings of families had to be considered. No one would dispute that the outlook was brighter now. The Government would continue to offer local bodies every inducement to find work for unemployed. The money would be decentralised. It was the job of hospital boards to relieve people in .distress. Mr. Savage: Not unemployed? Mr. Coates: Yes. If in distress the Wellington and Auckland Hos pital Boards have received considerable sums from the State —50 per cent, of the relief granted. Tie failed to see how relief could bo .better undertaken than by charit able aid boards. He hoped to get the exact classification of the unemployed with a view not altogether of finding employment, but of doing away with unemployment. Too many young fellows were being driven into the narrow avenue of pick and shovel Avork. MR, MURRAY’S CHARGE. A deputation from the City West Ratepayers’ Association urged Mr. Coates to expedite ionsideration of the charges made by Mr. W. 11. Murray, a member of the City Council, with a vieAV to having a judicial inquiry made concerning council administration. Mr. Coates said that the matter was one for the Internal Affairs Department, which Avas going thoroughly into the matter. On his return to Wellington he would expedite consideration of the documents.