WORK RUNNING SHORT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1929, Page 11

WORK RUNNING SHORT

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

POSITION AT LOWER HUTT

The Lower Hutt Borough Council has rcently been giving the question of the periodic recurrence of local unemployment serious consideration, in view of the facts that development works in the borough are rapidly nearing completion, and that the payment of interest and sinking fund on the unemployment loans of recent years is having an appreciable effect on the rates to be levied.

The result of that consideration was the approval by the council of the. following report prepared by the engineer, Mr. A. G. Bush, at the request of the Mayor, Sir A. I"1. Eoberts.

"The question of unemployment is causing the Lower Hutt Borough Council considerable concern, the council feeling that it dannot continue its late policy of raising loans for relief. The history of the present situation is briefly as follows:—

"Some four years ago Lower Hutt began to expand rather suddenly, and a heavy programme of "works was commenced. Ample work was available for all local men, and many.from adjacent areas, Wellington, and even further' afield, -drifted in and participated in the work. In view of the apparent certainty of permanent employment, many of these outside workers moved into the borough and beeam'e residents. Many others, attracted by similar possibilities, also became residents, and so, very gradually, a considerably greater population of the labouring typo than the borough could accommodate with permanent work was created. As scheme after scheme was brought to its conclusion, work became more dif-ficult-to'obtain, and. the council, in an earnest endeavour -to support the Government's policy and lead, raised loans for the relief of its local unemployed during the winter months. Since 1925 six such loans have been raised, aggrej gating approximately £25,000, and in addition the council, with the same object in view, has proceeded with various works of considerable magnitude, which might, in other circumstances, have been delayed until • a-later date. The additional problem of'B' class men, i.e., those incapable, by physical disability or age, of performing other than light work, has been an even greater difficulty, for it is extremely difficult to provide such work constantly. The council has exerted every endeavour to do so, but with the exception of an occasional job such work has about petered out. •

"It is felt that the Government's attention should be invited to this aspect of the unemployment situation with a view to some workable scheme being formulated, for the council is at the end of its resources in this direction.

"The council has also been forced to amend its policy in. respect to residential qualification for such employment as may be available. The situation, has become so acute from both policy and financial viewpoints that the council has decided it can no longer assume responsibility for raising unemployment loans, and that in future it must have a definite mandate from the ratepayers before doing so. . "During discussion on this subject certain councillors advocated that the Government should make greater use of the local bodies in dealing with unemployment, as it was felt that work of perhaps greater public utility existed in the-cities and towns than that in outlying districts. Such action would, it was thought, lighten the Government's burden and absorb the legitimate local unemployed. The fear was also expressed that the present scheme was, to some extent at least, tending to draw men from the land to higherpaid work under the Government scheme.

"Statements have been made that employment under . the Government scheme is about to. cease, and-disquiet existed in councillors' minds as to the treatment of Hutt men ;who had not registered as unemployed because they had, by the council's efforts, been kept in employment during, the registering rush, but who must, owing to the completion of the loan works referred to, shortly be discharged." .