UNEMPLOYMENT IN PALMERSTON NORTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 242, 11 September 1929, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT IN PALMERSTON NORTH.

ITS CAUSES. (To Tho Editor.) Sir,—lt is scarcely fair to trench on your generosity too much, but in the past you have always been so considerate that I am encouraged once more to beg part of your space. Unemployment in Palmerston North is about the same that it is ill other towns, but that it should exist in New Zealand is proof to a demonstration of bad economics and national incompetence in commerce and in government. I do not refer to the United Party Government, which is only a few months in power. To prove my ca fie, and judging by the excellent leading articles which you published referring to American policy, 1 think you will agree with me : (a) During tho first few months of this year 6479 ears came into New Zealand.' Of these, tho overwhelming majority came from U.S.A., which, boiled down, means that we eagerly take British money for our products and madly send our money to America for cars. How much, rather how very little, do the Americans take from us! And our streets are paraded by our own men, out of work, and starving! (b) Last year, ending 31st December 1928, Great Britain bought £37,070,093 from New • Zealand. America bought £2,680,302. Without the United Kingdom, New Zealand would starve in six months, and yet we pour our money into America. (c) During 1926, 1927 and 1928, America received £15,524,026 from New Zealand more than she spent with New Zealand. What can you expect in New Zealand? What can be expected in Palmerston North, but unemployment and starvation ? As editor of The New Zealander, I hope, as soon a« 1 can, to place the facts before the Palmerston electors, which will be duly advertised in your columns. Aleantime, let me say, quito as emphatically as I can, that New Zealand workers and employers have been betrayed. Our economics, as practised by farmers and others, arc wrong and false to our own people. We use foreign products and ignore our own. \Ve encourage Americans and starve our own people. We take British money and then . send it to America. His Worship tlie Mayor could not have replied other than he did to the deputation, for the question is a national one, and this session 1 hope to see a beginning made to stop the impoverishment of New Zealanders by a saner policy which will consider our own people. I suppose your readers are aware that U.S.A. gets £ICKJ,OUO from Britain every day, and will do so for 67 years u> come. It paid them to “win the war”! Yet their experts would suggest that we should take less in reparations, but, this, time, they met Snowden and not honest, good, but the much too weak Baldwin. Please let me add that i have no ill-will’ to Americans, but I do strongly object to the betrayal of our own people, and I am sure the ■•Standard” does the same.—l am, etc. Wm. THOMSON.