THE WORKLESS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 11

THE WORKLESS.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. DEPRESSION IN INDUSTRY. Several members of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee remarked at yesterday's meeting that tho situation was unprecedented for mid-summer. Those present at the meeting were:— Messrs E. H. Andrews (chairman), J. Young. W. E. Leadley, A. F. Drayton, F. C. Ellis, E. L. Greensmith, F. Langbeiu (I'ublie Works Deportment), R. B. Owen, E. G. Queree, E. 11. Marrincr, H. Worrnll, Dt. C. Chilton, the Rev. F.- Rule, and Mr F. A. Giant (secretary). The chairman said the £Uli in hand had practically all been expended. Mr Owen- said £2B had been received from the Gipsy Smith Mission. Mr Andrews reported that ho had waited on Mr Lnngbeiu, but there was nothing further to state. Mr Queree reported that the number of registered unemployed was 170. Exactly 50 per cent, of these were married, and their dependents numbered 2:11. Of the total of 170, 113 were labourers, and 9 engineers. Mr Marrinor said there were between 300 and 400 engineers unemployed in the winter throughout the Dominion. Mr Leadley said that as the committee had no more funds, the 30 who were on relief work must be paid off. Mr Youn?. said one or two had been placed in other work. Mr Queree said the position appeared to have eased, as not so many men were calling at his office. In addition, he was able to place, a good number of men in work.

Work in tho Country. : "There must be work in the country," said Mr Owen. Ho found, in conversation with farmers; that they had a lack of confidence m the City Unemployed. There were men who could do the country work, and he suggested that they should be selected by one or two retired farmers. Mr Andrews said that when farmers j wauted men they selected them through i their own organisation. i "You can't tell by looking at a man j whether he is a good worker or not," said Mr Leadley. "Farmers aro up against the rates of pay which we are giving, and say that so'long as we pay them there will always be unemployed." He said he was against any fresh appeal at present, as it would "cook their goose" for the winter. Mr Andrews said there were statements in the newspapers that scores of men were waiting irt the country centres for harvest. Mr Worrall said the committee had nothing to do with the wages paid by farmers, and the rate paid in town had ifo influence in deterring farmers from employina City unemployed. "It is not a valid objection," he said. Public Work Relief. Mr Langbein, District Publjc Engineer, said that the provision of fresh work was under consideration by the Department. The development of fresh unemployment in the summer took them unawares. The local officers bad had a look round, and were now in a .position to recommend to the Department that certain relief work should be made availablo. Nobody could be i taken on for about ten days, if the De-< partment decided to make available m6re relief work. The monthly average of 133 men was employed on "Public Works relief jobs in Canterbury up to the end of December, he said, and the relief extend-ed-over an average of from four to five months. The Department had expended £13,000 in this,province to the end of the year. To prove that the Public Works Department was employing throughout the Dominion an increasing number of men yearly, he quoted the following figures, giving the total of its employees:—March 3 Isti 1922, 5100; 1923,620*0; 1924,6100; 1926. ,6700 s 1926, 7100; November 25th, 1926, 9348 and 1200 on relief work.

'Freeing Works. Mr Ellis said a larger number of men was seeking employment in the freezing works than ever previously. Quite a number would arrive shortly from the North Island, For a month the companies would be unable- to increase their Staffs by any very large nunVber. The position was unprecedented. Many harvest workers were as yet unable to obtain jobs. From the general knowledge of the members of the committee it would be possible for them to state that even at the peak rush of the season, some of the men would not be absorbed. , "What is the cause of all this unemployment this year?" asked Mr Marriner. "There is a combination of reasons," said the chairman. ; "What are we going to be like in the middle of winter?" Mr Marriner asked. ; "It is certainly very disturbing, j said the chairman.

A Conference. Mr Leadley said the Mayor was calling an unemployment* conference on February 2nd. In reply to Mr L&ngbein, Mr Quereo fcaid he did not think he could find 75 men for a relief job in the country at present. "That's rather a serious statement," said Mr Leadley. "I should like to test it," said Mr Andrews. "If there is work and men won't take it, we can close down at once."

Mr Owen said there was an element of professional unemployed, but every industry was depressed. Mr Queree said he thought 60 men would go into the country. Not all of those registering were fit for heavy manual work. Mr Andrews eaid lie was hopeful that the position would improve through the letting of a fresh contract by the Drainage Board, the Tramway lioard's operations in Bealoy avenue, j and other jobs. Replying to Mr Owen, Mr Langbein skid he did not think the Department fixed any definite sum beyond which it would not go in expenditure on relief. Mr Ellis said the introduction of more machinery lessened; the amount of labour necessary in theiharvest field. Mr Marriner said that according to the Government's figuree, this year there were 5000 fewer men. employed on farms than in the previous year. Enquiries to be Made. Mr Drayton said they should be firm about the matter, and ask the unemployed if they would accept employment on Public Works relief jobs. "We shall be let down if we are not careful." He had had three applications for employment himself that morning, and the secondary industries were deEressed. The Department should not o worried by them if men were not prepared to go into the country. If he wanted a storeman to-day he could got SQ, but it was of no use asking a storeman or packer to go into the country. Mr Queree said he could make enquiries within the' next ten days, and then inform the Public Works Department. This suggestion was incorporated in a motion, which was carried. Messrs Andrews, Owen, and Drayton were ap-J pointed a sub-committee to carry out the arrangements on behalf of the.com> mittee. Mr Andrews said the conference being called by the Mayor would; include representatives of aH locarbodies inter-

csted, and would be representative Any member of the committee shouM be at liberty to attend. On a resolution moved by air Lesley and Mr Ellis, it was decided to as*' all members to attend the confereme. Enquiries for labour from Lyttelton yesterday enabled Mr E. G. Queree. who is in charge of the Labour Department's unemployment bureau, to place a number of men in work during the day, and at 4.3oip ; m. he still had I soveral vacancies. Thirteen men were given private work. The registrations _ numbered eleven, of whom five were married with fourteen dependents. Mechanical excavators are being substituted for manual labour on sereral drainage contracts. Tie "Bearcat," which is in use in Riccarton road, is capable of excavating a trench Bft 9in wide, sft deep and a chain long in an hour, an operation which would probably prove too much for thirty men. The Drainage Board has had ; numerous enquiries for work lately. The contract 6ocured by Messrs Boyle Bros, has not yet been signed, and' operations will not be commenced for some days. '' In the country districts residents state that more swaggers' have been seen this harvest than for many years ■ past, and many are camping in t tions or any buildings available until " they are able to secure work.