UNEMPLOYMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1921, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT.

. THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. REPLY TO DEPUTATION. By Telegrapli.—Press Association Wellington, April 20. A deputation of the Central Progress League and Returned Soldiers’ Association waited on Sir Francis Bell and Mr. Anderson to-day regarding unemployment. The deputation said the position ,was not alarming at present, but should be dealt with, before it became acute. It suggested that returned soldiers should receive preference in Government Departments and should not be dismissed now in the interests of economy. A plan should be prepared so that works to absorb unemployed labor should be remunerative and not merely for the purpose of giving relief. Sir Francis Bell said that immigration had been stopped for some time except for persons whose passages were paid by employers and relatives in New Zealand, who guaranteed to find employment for them, also it had not been possible to stop at once the immigration of a number of Imperial soldiers and their families that the Imperial Government had asked should be received. Returned soldiers were in a different position from other unemployed, as the Repatriation Department still had funds for the purpose of assisting them. The Government statement that soldiers would not be allowed to want still held good, but in carrying out that promise the Government had also to consider the position of men wh might be displaced and could not get other work. The Government was not going to be merciless. Arrangemehts had been, and were being made, tq prevent distress in the country so far as possible. The Government had not money enohgh to provide local bodies with funds, as had beep suggests, so that they might carry on works, Ip prdipary times fuifds were available for the Public Fund out of the surplus of the Consolidated Fund, but this year the Government had to keep a surplus to make good the expected loss of revenue, so that Government services might be maintained. It was, however, as clear to the GnWnpiept as to the deputation tmtMfcere must be sufficient for t9 prevent poverty' and hardship Tn WVhtry. The difficulties were as serious &s any the Government had ever had to but the Government fe ce *l iem like men » an<l returned soldiers and must re ' gard the Government as Gieir agents iq this matter and doing their best. Mri Alderson said the Government for some" months had been considering the position of men whii be disposition was not yet alarming. Hit L>eea<as worse he believed file plans would be aufejent to meet i t i. There was, however, an obligation bn persons to assist and not put vlt to taereaso the number of unemployed while they hot? J® kee P thcm go ’ ing.