THE UNEMPLOYED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3818, 14 July 1928, Page 4

THE UNEMPLOYED.

RESPONSIBILITY QUESTION

AUCKLAND, July 12. “If we go on relieving unemployment at the present rate, which is a cluu'ge upon the charitable aid side ot the Hospital Board, wo will probably exceed our estimates by £SOOO, said Mr W. Wallace, chairman of the New Zealand Hospitals Association, who returned to-day after interviewing the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart on the question of unemployment. Mr Coates had referred himself and the other representatives to Air Stewart when it came to the question of asking the Government to provide further monetary assistance. The Government wat told in very clear terms, said Mr Wallace, that tho greater proportion of unemployment was due to national causes, and in view of the tendency ol the unemployed to drift to the larger centres it was urged that the relief of distress should he home out of the Consolidated Fund. A non-committal reply was received from both Ministers although they seemed favourable to this viewpoint. WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING. WELLINGTON, July 13. An interjection to a reply lie was making ' concerning unemployment in Christchurch led the Prime Minister to intimate in the House of Representatives yosterd: / what ike Government was doing to meet the position generally. Mn Coates explained that 477 men had been taken on on relic! works in the Canterbury district this year, practically all of them haying been taken away from the city.. Since April 30 312 men had been placed. Towards the end of June arrangements were made to absorb a further 100 of the Christchurch unemployed, who were being taken away in batches as they registered. In addition, 100 men would he given wo; k in connection with afforestation on the banks of the Waimakiriri River. Mr R. McKoen (Wellington South): What are you doing in other centres? The Prime Minster: The same arrangements are hong made. Mr, McKoen: That mcaps nothing. The Prime Minister: As the men register we are taking the surplus as fast a.s we can. Preparations are in hand, and the men are being drafted off lo these works.