But, supported by men like Sir Francis Bell, Sir James Allen, Sir William Herries, Hon A.L. Herdman, Sir William Fraser and his other colleagues, the country soon came to recognise, despite the somewhat acrid criticism of the Liberal press, and of the displaced Liberal politicians, that the Reform Government was at least as good as its predecessor, and that this country’s affairs were safe in Mr Massey’s hands. Mr Massey has received many felicitations upon entering his tenth year of premiership. Mr Lloyd George insisted upon being photographed with Mr Massey at Downing Street. — ODT, 11.7.1921.
Concerns about unemployment
A special meeting of the New Zealand Workers’ Union was held on Saturday night to consider what action, if any, should be taken by the local branch to bring under the
notice of the Government the distress which was stated was fast becoming acute owing to unemployment. Mr S. Boreham reported that several large employers in Dunedin had already put off most of their men, in one or two cases where from 15 to 20 men were employed, all but one or two men had been put off, and many other large employers of labour were hanging on to their men as long as possible. But these employers assured him that if things do not improve within the next week or two, they also would be reluctantly compelled to shorten hands. The same applied to Port Chalmers. Messrs Stevenson and Cook and Messrs Morgan & Co, large employers of labour at Port, had warned him that things were so bad in their industries that it is only a matter of time when they would have to put off from work some of their men. It was resolved that Mr Boreham arrange for public meetings in Port Chalmers and Dunedin at the earliest possible date, and that the Mayors of the respective municipalities, also the local members of Parliament, be invited to attend, and that Messrs J.E. MacManus and Boreham be authorised to address such meetings from the men's point of view and to submit suggestions for relief.
