PLENTY OF WORK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2339, 22 December 1914, Page 6

PLENTY OF WORK

VERY FEW MEN UNEMPLOYED. Figures collected and tables compiled by the Department of Labour show that there is remarkably littlo unemployment in New Zealand. _ From three sources come reports which indicate that there are a few more men out of work than, ia usual at this time of the year; but from all other quarters the figures are as satisfactory as were over recorded. There is practically no unemployment at New Plymouth, Gisborne, Wtnganui, .Palmorston North, Nelsor., Grcymouth,' Oamaru, or Invercargill. There is more unemployment in Auckland than anywhere else, and Christchurch and Timaru, also, have some "out-of-works." In Auckland the latest return shows 144' applicants for work, nineteen of tliem carpenters, eighty-six of them labourers. The number of applicants in Christchurch is eiighty-five, and at Timaru eighty-four.

The Wellington office reports only ten applicants, and thirty-five callers. Lately the position lias been improving from week to. week, and there are signs, that of the men out of work some could obtain employment if they were anxious to go away from the towns just now. The agents at the places.where there are men unemployed have authorities in hand to send men to various public works, but the agents state that there appears to bo a general reluctance to accept this work just at the holiday season. The summing up of the Department is that conditions almost right through the Dominion appear to be normal.