THE TALKIES AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 169, 19 August 1929, Page 7

THE TALKIES AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

A. A. GEORGE.

To tlie Editor. Sir, — I see the municipal authorities in Hastings are going to spend thousands of pounds of tlie burgesses' money in installing the _ "talliies," which are already beginning to fall flat in Amerita. _ At the same time we read! every evening that "the Mayor's linemploynient fuiid has reaclied so aiitl se !" By the latest musical paper to hand. I read tliat in New York alone 3000 musicians are out of work owing te> the latest form of madness introduced by eapital. A good number of musicians in Haivke's Bay will also be puslied from tiieir jobs, and every oue of tliese men is a loss to tlie local tradespeople. Wby Mayors sliould be so x31'oud of tbeir unemployed- fitnds and at the same time deliberately create unemployment to use up tliose funds, is a x>i'oblem wliich inigbt be discussed by cliambers of commerce and otbers wbose knowledge of commerce seems to be very slnall. AVith the liowl of the uiiemployed so loud tliroughout the Dominidii it seeins hardly good business to create deliberately hiorc unemployment. But of course tlie unemployed are to be seen as often at tbe pictures and other iniported monstrosities as tbe inore wealtliy, so it is liard to know wliat to do. Tlie.v nia.v also be seen among.st Ihe fcolish inobs wbo staiul out in tlie rain all night to get rid of tiieir niouey because they liave so liiucli of it that it burns holes in their pockets But tlie webkly small debts court with an average of 75 to 100 eases is another picture, whicb, however, is incompiete oiving to the tricks used to keep many of the names of debtors out of the papers. An American producer says: "Personally I like an qrchestra best, but tbe public are forcing our baild. It is simply a case of cutting tlie other fellow's throat or cutting your own!" The public may be fooled, but it surely will not stay blindfqlded long. In the nieantiiiie it is costing a lot 9f nioney and iilcreasing unemployment. Tlie musieiati has used the best part of his life to become proficient and is iiot adapted to piek and shovel work. even if there was any of that kind or employment to be liad. Shifting dirt is not an inspiriiig job, anyway, — I ara, cte,.

Hastings- August 17, 1929.