UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT

POSITION IN WELLINGTON MANY MEN SEEKING WORK Judging by the. number of callers at the men’s employment bureau of the Labour Department this week, the volume of unemployment in Wellington is not diminishing. "Things appear to be quiet—outside,” remarked an official of the bureau when approached by a Dominion reporter yesterday, "but, with me, they have been extremely busy. During the week I have been interviewed by dozens of applicants for work, practically 50 or 60 per day. Of course, this figure includes inquirers who have come back on various occasions to learn if anything has turned up since their previous visits.” The official added that most of the apjflioants were unskilled workers, and that several of them were immigrants. Thirteen men had been placed in various jobs during the week. Last month, 101 names were entered on the unemployed register, at the bureau, and work was found for 96, of which 85 were labourers, two cooks, two fitters, and seven farm hands. In February employment was secured for 85 put of 93 applicants. The secretary of the Drapers’ Assistants’ Union (Mr. A. W. Croskery), told the 'reporter that he had had more men calling on him in search of positions during the week than had been the case for seven years. Up till just recently, said Mr’ Croskery, when a man approached him to find a situation no difficulty was experienced in placing the person right away, but at the present time this was not so easy. He knew of several men who desired situations, and amongst those who had been to the union office this week ■were a couple of new arrivals. A different story was related by Mr. F. Singleton (secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners), who said that work could be found for carpenters without much trouble. "We have placed men at 3s. per hour,” added Mr. Singleton, "including four immigrants who landed only the day before yesterday.”