UNEMPLOYMENT DIFFICULTY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2281, 15 October 1914, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT DIFFICULTY

MEASURES FOE RELIEF. A brief statement regarding tho relief of unemployment was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by tho Minister of Public Works. It appeared from a portion of his statement that the distress is not so, acute in some districts as it has been represented to be. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke's Bav) said ho had been advised that there was a good deal of unemployment in Hastings and Napier, and he asked the Government whether they could eee their way to find employment for mon in need of it by starting on a further portion of the East Coast railway. This work, he pointed out would have to be proceeded with some time, so that to go on with it now would not involvo a waste of money. He al6o urged that the Napier Harbour Bill bo allowed to pass as speedily as possible, in order that tho local body could get on with the harbour improvement scheme and thereby absorb the surplus labour in the district. The Hon. W. Eraser said that he had placed a sum of money on the .Estimates over and above what he required for the construction, of a bridge across the harbour, and his object in doing so was to provide work for men-on tho railway. "Let mo say this,", said Mr. Fraser, "that while very often I am told there is a large number of men wanting to take up \vork-r,peThaps 200 or 300 in one place—l find that tho men are not available. In regard to Cbristclmrch I had some, difficulty in getting the local bodies to find money for certain, works which I agreed to subsidise, to relieve tho unemployment existing there. For one road,', the Dver's Pass Road, I yivo a subsidy of £1000, and I subsequently agreed to give more. This work was to bo for married men; single men can go to the camps. Tho work was all arranged to start. I was told there were plenty of men in need of work, and how many do I find went out there? I find that there wero four mon who wont out to the work. Now, this is work that men can go to without breaking up their homes. They can go out in tho tram, and there is only about a milo to walk. . It is not my fault if men don't go out to theso works. I provide work for thein. It is not my fault if the mon don't go and take it."

Tho Right Hon. W. P. Massey pro-" uiised that lie would give facilities far tho quick passage of the Napier Harbour Bill, probably on Monday night.