UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

SEAMEN AND CIVIC LEAGUE A HOSTILE RESOLUTION After discussing the proposal originating with the Civic League that everyone in a position to do so should contribute one day’s day to provide worK for the relief of the unemployed, the executive council of the Federated Seamen’s Union passed the following resolution :— 'That until the Civic and ether interested leagues request one .lay’s profits from each commercial institution, and generally comply with the principles laid down by the secretary of the Alliance'of Labour, this council cannot recommend the workers to concede a day’s pay to the Civic League unemployment fund. Further, this council is of opinion that the” present move of the Civic League is one directed by the Employers’ Federation, Welfare League, and other sucli leagues, to use the unemployed as a mere cry for no other purpose than to reduce wages for nil time, as demonstrated in the schedule of wages set out in the document compiled by Mr. Mitchell, and published in the daily papers, which allows a c-'hild the daily pittance of sixpence to live on. We are also of opinion that if wages v. ere increased workers would secure a greater purchasing power to acquire the products now tied up for the want, of momfy to purchase, thereby reviving trade and reducing the unemployment to o. minimum,” Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, said yesterday that apparently Labour was merely being asked to use its influence for the building up of a fund the administration of which wos to be left to men who were "insidious enemies of the Labour movement.”

GHUZNEE STREET BUREAU Through its Ghuznce Street . Employment But ieau tlie Labour Department was last week able to find work for 21 men on various private jobs’ On Saturday tbere were 519 names on the bookq of tn* bureau, as compared with 355 on tho previous Saturday. The applicants included 339 labourers. 26 cooks and stewards. 23 drivers, 26 storemen, 15 farm hands, and several classes of tradesmen Officials of the Labour Department state that some of the callers at the bureau are "unemployables," ond. also that one in every four applicants is a man who will not accept relief work. DUNEDIN UNEMPLOYED MEET By Telegraph —Press Association. Dunedin, September 19 A meeting of over 300 unemployed todav urged the City Council and ether • local bodies to proceed with various works, including street-paving, for yhicb £175.000 was borrowed. It was also decided that the Prime Minister AwW ho asked to allow the railway deviation to Ravensbourne. POSITION AT LOWER HUTT "NO NEED FOR PANIC ACTION.” The Lower Hutt Borough Council has appointed a sub-committee to deal with unemployment. The committee 'is to meet at frequent intervals to consider applications, with a view to providing work for the more necessitous cases. The rates of pay yill be as follow:—Married men with one child, 12s. per day, and 6d. per day for each additional child not working; married men without children, Us. per day; single men, Bs. per day. - At a meeting on Friday night the committee considered seventeen applications, five of which were from single men, and it is understood that employment has been arranged for six of the more urgent cases. A subscription list- has been placed in the council office, and the committee would be glad to receive the names of any who are in a position, to furnish work for men’ now unemployed. To a Dominion reporter yesterday the Mayor (Mr. Rishworth) stated that there was no need for panic action. The position was only that unemployment was rather more acute than usual, owing to the shortage of work on the wharves, and with the meat export companies; but if reasonable help were forthcoming from the people, and the necessary funds were available, he felt confident that they would be able to tide over the difficult period. "I would like it io be understood," continued Mr. Rishworth, "that we cannot take responsibility for finding employment for men other than those resident in our own borough. I consider it a .reasonable thing that the Government should provide relief works for the immigrants that have not been absorbed in permanent employment, and I think the local bodies -should accept responsibility for tho employment of their own peopje.” The work to be provided, Mr. Rishworth explained, would be of an unproductive nature. The prevailing rates of wages would not be paid, but the money would tide over those out of work during their temporary difficulties.

The council acknowledges receipt of the following subscriptions to the fund: —Mrs. Paddington, £1; J. Brasell, £2; W. G. Meldrum, £1 Is.; E. P./Rishworth, £2; J. Mitchell, £10; J. D. Climie, £2 2s. t ’ '