ALLEGED UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 9

ALLEGED UNEMPLOYMENT

MEN WILL NOT LEAVE CITIES. The alleged prevalence of unemployment was spoken of in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. H. Atmoro said that he had been advised that painters in , Nelson - were • very "slack" just now, and the , suggestion had been made that the Government Buildings in the town, which had not been renovated for some years, should bo repainted. , ■. ' The Hon. W. Fraser said that he was prepared to consider the question, but he would point out that the Government, whilst desirous of assisting in enabling men to maintain their families, pould not undertake to find work for all /skillod artisajis. If what was asked was done in one district, all other districts would expect the same thing to. be done for them. The workers he could .employ were navvies. Mr. Webb (Grey): Can you place any navvies? .' . Mr. Fraser: Yes, 1 have placed hundreds of them.: ■Mr. Webb: There are hundreds of them now in this town seeking employment. '. . i Mr. Fraser'said that in order to enable members to judge of what was tak:ing. place he might instance what had happened in Christchurch. It was reported that there were 100 or 200 men there wanting employment. The district engineer said he could place 40 or SO men at once, but when thetabour Department endeavoured to get the men it was found that only 22 out of 40 who applied would' leave, Christchurch, and the Department had to ask that the balance be sent from Dunedin. And.at the same time it was said that there were meetings of 300 unemployed daily. • Altogether he had sent out about 1000 men since the jwair began to works in the 'country. '''■•'