UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND.

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND.

THE PRIME MINISTER'^ OPINION. Although the position is by noacute, the prevalence of unemployment m New Zealand cannot be doubted. Advocates of prohibition tell us, that if their pet scheme became law, the twenty odd thousand people m the New Zealand licensed trade would quickly be "absorbed by otherindustries." They fail to tell us what these industries are, and how it will be done, and when* The fact is, that if prohibition were carried, another' twenty thousand at least would be added to our numbers of unemployed at the beginning- of next winter. Who is to look- after their wives and families? .. ;.: In America, • despite prohibition, there are more unemployed to-day than there were m the slump period of 1920-21, and 1,874,050 more than there were m 1925, according to a report to. the U.S. , Senate, made by the Secretary of Labour, Mr. J. 'J. Davis, aiid published m the "Dominion" on 28th March last. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, speuking. at Wellington on June 14tli, 1928, pointed out that whereas m the United States of America there were at .least 1 m 60 unemployed, m New Zealand (under continuance) the figures were 1 hi 300 at the outside. Thus . New Zealand . was . five times better off! than , the United, States of America.* „ -• '4