Mr. Fletcher Demands Government Action

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 7

Mr. Fletcher Demands Government Action

UNEMPLOYMENT ILLS THREAT TO WALK OVER (THE SUN 1 8 Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. j At least one member of the United Party is dissatisfied with the way the Government is tackling the problem of unemployment. He is Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn), and in the House this evening, during the debate on Mr. P. Fraser’s Unemployed Workers’ Bill, he threatened to walk across the floor of the House if the Government did not do more than it was doing to solve the problem. Mr. Fletcher started off by comparing the unemployment problem with Hill Difficulty In the Pilgrim’s Progress, and urged the Government to follow the example of the pilgrim in surmounting the difficulty. He did not believe that the Government’s land settlement proposal could offer a satisfactory solution by Itself, and he stressed the importance of developing manufacturing industries. He then quoted the question he had asked on secondary industries, and the answer he had received. “RECEIVING CONSIDERATION’’ The question was addressed to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and asked whether lie considered the desirability of appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee to explore all the possibilities of developing our present manufacturing industries and eucouraging the starting of others. The reply was, “The matter lias already re.ceived consideration, but it has been demonstrated that the survey suggested is so wide, and must cover so many existing and potential industries, that it would he impossible for a Select Committee thoroughly to cover the ground in the comparatively short time available during the recess. The Government will consider the holding of such investigation.” Mr. Fletcher was dissatisfied with the answer.

"Simply because it is a big job,” he said, “the Government is going to put it off. If that is what the Government intends to do, you can take it from me, here and now, that I’m not going to support it any longer.” Voices: Be careful! Mr. Fletcher: I’m being careful. I gave pledges to my electors that I would try to get something done. If the Government is going to block things because the job is too big, and if the reply is not satisfactory, I will walk across the floor of the House tonight. MR. FLETCHER CONGRATULATED Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) congratulated Mr. Fletcher on his utterances, which he might say were bordering on rebellion. He admired him on that account. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): It was an honest statement, anyhow. Mr. Samuel said that if other members adopted Mr. Fletcher's attitude, it would not be long before the unemployment problem was solved. He commended the statement of the member for Grey Lynn to the Government. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier) echoed the plea of Mr. Fletcher, and although a few (members of the House may wish to avoid the risk and inconvenience of a sudden election, he for one did not care. The patience of some members of the House was at an end, and though he did not want to use threats, he would warn the Government that something should he done. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, also complimented Mr. Fletcher on the courage of his stand. “LEGISLATE IMMEDIATELY”

REQUEST TO PRIME MINISTER

Although gratified that the Government intends to bring down legislation providing for a scheme of national unemployment insurance, the Auckland Carpenters’ Union regrets that nothing is to be done this session. Writing to the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, the union asks that, in view of the urgency of the unemployed situation, that the legislation be prosecuted forthwith. “Members of the union have suffered very severely from unemployment and its consequences during recent years,” states the secretary, Mr. Tom Bloodworth, "and since the Government evidently realises the need for a system of unemployment insurance, and as there is abundant evidence available regarding the working of the system in other countries, the union can see no reason for the delay of a further year in introducing this legislation.' ________