UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

THE GOVERNMENT’S OPERATIONS

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER OF LABOUR THE QUESTION OF WAGES Some of the L-ibour members of Parliament, including the Auckland members, have communicaied with the Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) protesting against tho payment of only 10s. a day, with 2s. extra for married men, to men placed on unemployment iworks. The members urge that current wages ought to be. paid, and state that they will not advise unemployed workers to accept work under the conditions offered. Tho Minister stated yesterday, in reply to these protests, that it was absurd to expect that work done on relief works should be paid for at ordinary rates of wages. All classes of men, some physically fit, and some unfit. [were seeking employment. They were separated as far as possible, so as to give those who were unfit the opportunity of earning a living wage. The relief works were not established with the object of offering permanent employment, but were of a different grade altogether from ordinary public .works. No attempt had been, made to reduce wages on ordinary public works. Belief works were only temporary, to tide over a difficulty, and the sooner mon could get other employment the better. Tho wage offered was tho highest that could ho offered for that particular purpose. It was recognised that many of the men who -were to he employed would be taking on a now occupation, e.n<l it could not ho expected that they would ba worth as much as in the occupation they had followed previously. At the same time, sufficient was offered to keep tho men and tboir families from want.

The Minister added: that the relief .'works were not on tho same footing as ordinary public works. The men were being given the jobs to prevent hardship, but they were not being invited to take them. The works were useful and tho State was going to get. value for the money spent, but tho works would not'bo undertaken at the present time if unemployment did not exist. Mr. Anderson mentioned that the official returns indicated that there /was more, unemployment in Auckland than in other parts of the Dominion. There was a certain amount in Southland and Ofiago, but nothing to compare with that in the north. It was reported that men who had gone to the north from the south were now returning, and tho unemployment 'was principally among men who had been attracted to the north and [were now returning. The Government was placing tho men as speedily as possible, but they could not be' aTT*provided for at once, as it was not desired to send them out into the coazityy with nothing but a blanket. Tho Government was not putting off any of its employees now, and it was the duty of employers and local bodies to assist as much as they could in retaining their hands and in providing work for others. |

Details of the Scheme. Tho Minister of labour made a statement in the South Island in reply to suggestions that tho Government was not doing enough for the relief of unemployment. He said that several months ago he had arranged with his colleague, the Minister of Public Works, that certain works should lie set aside to meet any serious unemployment that might arise. So far (at the end of last week) there had not been any serious unemployment reported to him. It was true that his Department had upon its books in the various towns of the country a total of slightly over 500. Many of these, however, had either been found employment or placed upon public relief works. It had heen arranged that unemployed workers should register at the various bureaux of the Labour Department, or with the representatives of the Department in districts where bureaux were not established. Unemployed soldiers we.ro to register with the various representatives of tho ’Repatriation Department throughout tho country. The officers of the Labour and Repatriation Departments then reported to the Public. Works Department the number of cases of those fitted for heavy manual labour and those unsuitable for that class of employment. The Public Works Department took charge of the men. and as quickly as possible had them placed upon works specially set apart for the purpose of relieving unemployment. The most necessitous cases were being dealt with first. Married returned soldiers, married civilians, unmarried soldiers, and unmarried civilians with denendants were being given preference,; single returned soldiers and civilians came next. He did not wish it to be understood that men who had saved money should bo treated as unemployed. Relief works were intended primarily for those who were practically penniless. Mr. Anderson said be trusted that anyone who was in a position to employ labour would do so. The Government was now retaining iu employment all the hands it possibly could, and he hoped that the oommunitv generally would follow that lead. He felt certain that within a very few months the prospects of our primary products would brighten.' and that the 'employment market would resume its normal state. In tho meanfime it was the duty of local boxlies and private employers to assist in tiding over the temporary difficulties. As would bo apparent to everyone. Ihe primary cause of the present shortage «f money was excessive importation. No country with a population of tho Dominion could afford to import .815.00h.000 over and above its exports. As soon as the monev invested in. the imported articles was released, our fimmces would become more buoyant. It wn« to the benefit of tho country and individuals that all should be employed, «0 that our productions might rr.mdly increase and restore prosperous conditions in tho country. REPORT TO THE PROGRESS LEAGUE STICRET AKY’S IN VEST ICt A TIONS. In tho course of a report to the Central Progress League, the secretary (Mr. G. Mitchell, AI.P.) states that after very careful inquiry ho regrets to report that unemployment is on the increase. Since last meeting the Government had made a start to provide work for unemployed. Twenty-five men bad been sent marram grass planting near Foxton, some 30 io the Hutt-Whikanae Road, some to road work on tho Packakariki Hill; others to the West Coast, South Island, and odd men to various works. The Repatriation Department had increased their employment staff from one to four, and by a fin« effort had succeeded in placing an increasing number of men. Tho Labour Bureau had also done good work and placed numbers of men. But, with it all, unemployment; was gradually and surely increasing. There wore some 300 men on the Labour Bureau Books to-day. Numbers had called this last few days, but they did not sign a card on finding there was no work, which would bring the. number who called to well over 330. At the Repatriation DeparT'ffient there were, some 130 returned soldiers workless, some of whom would be on tho Labour Bureau cards. Many men, both soldiers and civilians, did not register at either of these employing bodies. Some may have joined the waterside workers with tho hope of sharing tho little highly-paid work going on on the waterfront. But hero rather an acute position had been reached, After a flood of goods of. very high price?, imports had fallen to zero, and with an over-stock of goods and an

under-stock of money imports were likely to remain at zero for some time. The price of wool and meat (was also causing a hold-up of these commodities. So until demand and reasonable prices were established the work of tho waterfront was not likely to improve. “The economic condition of our country and the interest of tho whole community demand more labour-saving machinery and more efficiency and economy in handling goods on the waterfront,” says Air. Mitchell, "and work will have to be found for some of tho waterside workers elsewhere In any case. But apart from the consideration of greater efficiency, a.t the present time there are quite four hundred men more than are required on the waterfront. Numbers of watersiders have not had a day’s work for some time, and considering the conditions, there is no reasonable hope for any improvement for months to come; therefore, work must be found elsewhere.” Mr. Mitchell suggests that married mon with families and single men with responsibilities should have preference of whatever waterside work is going. Others will havo to take other ic-mployment. Those in authority estimate that only half the returned soldiers out of work are on the books of the Repatriation Department. Thiay are seeking work independently. On the other hand, it is estimated that half of those registered with the Repatriation Department are also registered with the Labour Bureau. It will be seen, therefore, how difficult it is to girt an accurate estimate of those out of work, but. the following figures are admitted by those connected with labour to bo within the mark:— On Labour Department’s books, GOO; Repatriation Department, ISO; on waterfront, 400; not registered, say, 200; total, 1030; less soldiers also on Labour Department’s books, 70; total, 96(1. Many of these unemployed are fresh arrivals, and in?m with families. Besides which, information from a reliable source at Palmerston North and Feilding indicate that on recount of shutting diown the Hax-milling industry, freezing works, dairy factories, etc., numbers of men are out of work in the districts. Th'sse numbers ai'e constantly being added tc by discharges from the Government De[xiTtmonts. Mr. Mitchell says men are daily calling on. him with their discharge. They continue to be dismissed in hatches, in flat contradiction of Ministerial stat em e nte.

Some men. have not “played; Hie Rama” They have failed to turn up to work after it has been found for them. “These men,*’ Mr. Mitchell adds, “cannot expect consideration in future. We are only facing the winter, conditions will be worse before they are better, and I advise mon to take any reasonable work offered to them, and stick to it. faithfully until better times come. This applies also to those now in work: I advise them to stick faithfully to any reasonable work they have. The acute stage has not yet been reached, because most of those out of work 'have some funuti, but. such reserve is surely and swiftly nuuiing out.”