A HOPELESS MUDDLE

Evening Star, Issue 19789, 13 February 1928, Page 11

A HOPELESS MUDDLE

THE UNEMPLOYED FIGURES LBPECUi XO TEE ‘ SIAK.'J WELLINGTON, February 11. ; One of the points made strongly by the Prime Minister in discussing unemployment with a representative deputation 'of Labor leaders was .that there seemed to be no way of getting at the real extent of the problem. Me admitted that in some centres, it was serious, but to take Auckland, wheie some people alleged there were dive thousand looking lor work, the actual number unemployed as officially registered was 725. He asked lor the assistance of the deputation in getting more complete and accurate figures. He hoped they would urge all unemployed to register with the Labor Department. t . In reply, the difficulties of official registration in Auckland were explained by Mr Bloodworth. “ They are all required to register in I'ort street,” he said, “and they could not all "et in. Think of the long queue. He pointed out that many of the unemployed lived in harbor suburbs, and at other distant points. They simply could not afford the shilling necessary to get into town periodically to register. Why not permit them to record their names at the nearest post office? In country places the men had to inform the local police, but they would prefer to deal with the Post Office. Mr Coates: How often do they register ? Mr Blood worthy; Every day. The Prime Minister consulted the secretary of Labor, and replied that there was no need to register daily. They should renew registration every fortnight. He appeared to be impressed with a suggestion lor registration through Poll Offices, and there is a probability that the unemployment figures will shortly become more complete by the institution of a better system for easy registration.