UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

MAN WITH SIMPLE CURE “MISLEADS PUBLIC" EFFECT OF 14/- WAGE “Any man who says he has a simple solution of the unemployment problem is misleading the public," said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in referring last evening to the United Government's promise to end the unemployed situation. Mr. Stewart said the United Party’s main sheet anchor in this connection was land settlement. In his opinion, however, the. party was labouring with a false analogy, believing that what was feasible in the ’9o’s could be done now. Th© Alliance of Labour had recently pointed out that unemployment had increased since the coming of th£ United Government. It was only natural. " Private individuals and local bodies who had been stretching their resources to keep men on did not now s-ee why they should not pass the burden on to the Government. The 14s wage was an evil. The Prime Minister, in reply to a Labour deputation, liad said: “Don’t put this up to me in a sentimental way; don’t you know that this 14s is bringing men from Australia?" Mr. Coates had said earlier that would happen, Mr. Stewart continued. But Sir Joseph had retorted: “How can men come over when they haven’t any money?" “I am not blaming the Government for not solving the problem, but for boasting,and bragging about it,” Mr. Stewart explained. He did not believe Labour could make a better job of it, judging by the efforts of the party in Great Britain and Australia. They were beginning to see that the problem was not as easy of disposal as they thought.