THE UNEMPLOYED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2265, 10 August 1908, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

ARRIVALS IN GISBORNE

A SHORTAGE OF AVORK

A large number of unemployed men were brought to Gisborne by the s.s. Wimmera on Saturday, and they will try to find work on the railway construction works at Waikohu. ' Mr. Oarmody, who is in charge of the local Labor Office, told a ‘‘Times” reporter that he had no official advice of the arrival of the men, although a large number called at his office on Saturday morning. Mr. Carmody expressed the opinion that the men will find it difficult to obtain work in the district. ACTION BY TRADES COUNCIL. At the meeting of the 'East Coast. Trades and Labor Council on Saturday evoniug, strong exception was taken to the'action of the Labor ‘Department in sending the unemployed’ of other towns to Government work in the district, while there were a. number of unemployed on the hooks of the local Labor ‘Bureau. Mr. C. J. Bollen, in a strong speech, commented on the action of the Labor Department. There were a number of men in the district who were on the unemployed list of the local Labor Office, and lie understood that the local agent had stated to them that there was no Government work available on the district. Yet immediately afterwards tho Department forwarded men from other centres to varirms works in the district, even without informing the local agent that such work was, or had been, available. He considered the action of tho Department very unfair to the local unemployed, and moved the following resolution—“ That the Ea6t Coast Trades and Libor Council takes exception to the Labor Department importing labor to this district whilst there are several local unemployed unabsorbed.” Mr. T. B. Sweet seconded the resolution. He considered it was a matter that should be taken up by the Council. He had noticed scores of young men about town doing nothing; they simply paraded the streets. The books of the local agent also showed a number unemployed. It was the duty of tho Department to see that the local unemployed were first absorbed before sending men to this district. from outside. The cry of the unemployed had gone up in the large centres, and the cry had boon heard. Tho local ‘men had not made n noise like tho sturdier of the larger towns, and thus they were suffering. Mr. C. Catton expressed approval of tho motion. Had the local unemployed been absorbed the Department would have been quite justified in their action, hut under existing circumstances a protest should he itiadc. After further discussion the motion was put and carried .unanimously, and the secretary was instructed to forward copies of the resolution to the Minister for Labor (Hon. J. A. Millar) and the Secretary for Labor (Mr. E. Tregear).