THE UNEMPLOYED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2295, 14 September 1908, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

THE RECENT LOCAL PROTEST.

About a month or so ago strenuous protests were made by the East Coast Trades and Labor Council against- the importation to the district of unemployed from other centres for employment, on Government works in the district, when it was alleged there wore a number of .unemployed in the district. The Council wrote to the Minister for Labor and the Secretary for Labor on the question, and at a mooting of the Council on Saturday evening the following replies were received :

From Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labor: “I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th inst-., forwarding copy of resolution passed at a meeting of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council protesting against any importation of labor into your district whilst there are local unemployed. In reply I may say that it is the desire ot the Government as far as possible to provide work for all those who are willing to work, and 1 shall lie glad if you will forward the names ot all men who arc idle and who are willing to accept employment on any of the public works now being carried on the Dominion. Every endeavor will bo mado to place 'these men.”

From Mr. Edward Tregear, Secretary for Labor: ‘‘l have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th inst. covering a resolution carried at a meeting of your Council in reference to the importation of labor in the Poverty Bay district. 1 may say that our agents at Gisborne and at other places in. the Dominion aro instructed to keep the head office acquainted immediately it is found that there are any skilled or unskilled persons out of work in their districts, and I gather from the reports received from Mr. Carmody, our Gisborne agent, tliat there are not at present, nor have there been recently, many local men out of employment. Some of the unskilled men applying for work have not been fit for heavy work, and it is a difficult matter to place such men. All that were fitted for it' could have been sent to the railway works with the Wellington men. In reference to tradesmen: I am informed that there were fully twenty carpenters unemployed about a fortnight ago, thirteen of whom came from other districts. At the present time, however, Mr. Carmody reports that there is not a carpenter idle, and that bricklayers, painters, and plumbers are also fully employed. It would not appear, therefore, that the action of your Council in passing the resolution referred to was necessary. I may say, however, that the Department will be glad to receive any information from your Council or from any of the Union officials as to the state of the labor market so that our agents may take action without delay.” The letters were received,