THE LABOUR MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2166, 3 June 1914, Page 7

THE LABOUR MARKET.

PROVISION FOE UNEMPLOYED. A statement recently published in •LJimcdm convoyed tho' impression that tho Public Works Department was not in a position k> offer work to tiny men unemployed in that town. This, tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Public norks) informed a reporter yesterday was incorrect. Ho had arranged that work should bo provided for, men unemployed at Dunodin and elsewhere, who were willing to go into the country, The position at Dunodin was that tho District Engineer had boon unablo for some time past to get the men ho wanted for tho Ciltlins and Roxburgh railways, and ho was instructed by the Minister at tho end of last week.to put on men who woro recommended by tho Labour Dcpartmont. "I refuse to liavo men apply to us except through the Labour Department," said Mr. Frascr. "That" is a general rule all through tho Dominion, and has always been the practice." Thero ware- many applications for work in different parts of tho Dominion, the Minister went on to remark, but they were mostly from men who did not want to leave town. A number of tho applicants woro artisans and married men wlio could not afford to go out of town, and tho Public Works Department was not in a position to provide for them. Tho Government, howevdr, v/as in places providing employment in other ways, as, for.instance, by tho expenditure of over £SflOO upon buildings and painting at Seacliff, under the administration of tho Mental Hospitals Department. The now Parliamentary Buildings at Wellington would also provido employment for a largo number of men as timo went on. As to men who were willing to p> into the country,'the Miuister_ stated, ho had made provision everywhere at places to which they ernld be sent. Recently arrangements were mado to send fifty men away from Wellington; and work-can bo found for men unemployed in Christchurch on the Ashley Gorge Itoad and another road. ■ '