Evening star., 1921-08-21
Warns CANADIANS
TOBUY AT HOME
Minister Of Labor Says Un.
employment Situation
Must Be Faced.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

epeciai Dlspatch 10 Inc Star
OTTAWA. August 2o.-Canadians
are again warned to quit buying goods
in the United States. True. the states
is not specifically referred to this time,
but it is meant. Several statements
have been issued during the past year
by prominent politicians to- tiis erect.
This time the minister of labor, Hon.
G. D. Robertson, sounds decided note
of warning. His argument is that
times are bad. that buying in Canada
would be Il material remedy for the
present unemployment; that firms
show a decrease OF $4,000 employees
this year and that there is food for
thought in the statement that $780,
coo, 900 worth of Can1dian-made goods
means approximately $70,00O,O0O in
wages"
Canada is facing a serious unem-
ployment situation and the rank and
file of Canadian people can help In
ing only goods made in Canada
wherever they are available. This
point is stressed in statement made
yesterday by the minister of labor.
"Since January l. 1920, federal,
provincial and municipal go ern-
ments have disbursed approximate
1y $3,500,000 in unemployment re-
lief to needy people. Greater need and
greater demands are in sight," said
the minis e of labor. IF q cry "a
madam would buy only Canadian goods
where available, the volume produced
would be greatly increa sed, which
would tend to reduce both productive
and selling prices, absorb labor and
eliminate or reduce to a minimum both
the cost and necessity OF re 1ef meas
ures. Neither federal provincial nor
municipal authorities can hope to solve
the problem except with the co-opera-
tion of the people"
SiSuntiou nemauda Action.
"Cansdian industries. records show.
continued to show substantial de-
creases in the number of men en-
ployed. AS compared with midwinter
of 1920. the situation is such as to de-
mand attention and action.
Normally, there are slack periods
due to many seasonal occupations.
the minimum number of people being
employed during midwinter. A true
idea of this existing situation may be
drawn from the fact that in January.
1890. 3,242 firms. engaged in fourteen
different lines of manufacture, en-
ployed S95,290 workmen. while in
July. 1921, these same firms had only
319,710 on their pay rolls, a decrease
of:75.5S0. or 19 per cent, at a season
when normally their staffs are sub
stantially increased over winter
ported 1892 men employed in Janu-
ary, 1920, with but 6.656 in July,
1921. decrease of 65 per cent, not
withstanding the fact that British
Columbia logging operations are carried
on during the summer months and nor
mally ser the decrease in employees in
eastern Canada. One hundred and sixty
eight mining concerns show a decrease
o. 3,019 men, or per cent below mid
winter level. The manufacturing min
iEg and numbering industries fairly re-
feet the true situation. it is stated"
GoSet the decrease in employees in
eastern Canada. 1853 mining concerns
show a decrease of ,3,019 men, or 8
per cent below nidwinter level. The
manufacture. mining and numbering
industries fairly reflect the true situ-
alton. II is stated"
All Have Responsibility.
Every Canadian citizen" said
Senator Robertson. "has an indi-
viduaI responsibility and can aid in
minimizing unemployment in Canada
by purchasing only Canadian-made
goods. Approximately 70 per cent of
the cost of Manufactured goods rep
resents the cost Of labor. In the vari-
Gus stages OF production One hun
dred million dollars worth of Cana
dian-made goods purchased means
S70,o0e.G00 distributed to Canadian
workn1en, which would be spent for
the maintenance of themselves. their
homes and dependents, and which
would also circulate through many
hands and remain in Canada. The
purchase of the same amount Of i'm
ported goods which could have been
produced at home contributes to the
unen ployment of scores Of thousands
of Canadian workmen, to want and
suffering for their families, to indus
trial unrest and to the necessity of
Unemployment relief.
Our factories running to 100 per
cent capacity mean lower unit costs.
hence lower production costs and
better wages, with our labor en-
pIoyed and contented." p