UNEMPLOYMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT

FOXTON’S PROBLEM DISCUSSION WITH MINISTER FOXTON, March 31. The Minister of Labour, the Hon H. T. Armstrong, visited Foxton today in company with Mr L. G. Lowry, M.P., for Otaki. The Minister was accorded a civic welcome at the council chambers by the Mayor, Mr M. E. Perreau, and a discussion on local body affairs and the possibility of employing men locally followed. The closing of the flaxmills was discussed, and the Minister, who stated that he had worked in a flaxmill in Foxton at the age of 12 showed that he had an' extensive knowledge of the industry. He referred to the operations of the New Zealand Woolpack and Textile factory, and said that from this experimental mill it was anticipated that the industry would be rehabilitated.

An enthusiastic reception greeted the Minister on arrival at the Town Hall, where about 250 representatives of the General Workers’ Union from Foxton and Shannon had gathered. Mr J. Queenan, district representative of the union, placed before the Minister a list of necessary and useful works which could absorb all the district unemployed and vzhich embodied the overhaul of the Foxton sewerage system and reading works. Replying, the Minister thanked the mayor and citizens for their splendid reception, and stated that he would have an immediate investigation made into the points raised by Mr Queenan, together with a general revue of the employment situation. He outlined the steps which had been taken by the Government to solve the unemployment problem. When he took office, he said, more than 55,000 men were out of work. To-day there were approximately 5000 unemployed, the majority of whom were physically incapable of hard work. It was the intention of the Government to plan for the absorption of every worker willing and able to work. They had gone a long way toward this objective, and were now planning to cope with seasonal fluctuations of employment. Sir. Armstrong said it did not appear ias if ii was much use the flax industry carrying on if it could not make a success of it under the existing subsidy of from £3 to £7 a ton. He had every faith in the manufacture of materials from the raw materials in New Zealand, however, and was confident that given a chance the Government would place the industry on a sound footings on this basis. On the motion of the general secretary of the union, Mr P. M. Butler, seconded by Mr G. Quarrie, Shannon, the meeting carried a vote of thanks to the Minister and of confidence in Mr Armstrong and the Government. Mr Lowrie briefly , addressed the meeting in support of tne request made to the Minister. The party later inspected the wool pack factory, Westwood’s mill, and the Moutoa swamp.