UNEMPLOYMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10316, 27 January 1927, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

ACUTE POSITION IN* AUCKLAND AT LEAST 1000 MEN OUT OF WORK /Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 26. The unemployed position in Auckland, which is considered to lie moie acute than during the summer months of any previous year shoiis no improvement and though the list at the Labor Department's othce contains 578 names of men anxious to work, the actual number ot unemployed in Auckland to-day would b 3 considerably in excess of that shown at the Labor Department. Engineers fitters and turners, returned soldiers and others are not included, at least 1000 men out of work, lhe hope that the winter position would improve with the New* ls fulfilled, and several of those who v.-ere mem tiers of the Citizens Unonmloyment Committee last winter, consider the Mayor should call the committee together again Some idea of the number of unemployed in Auckland may be gained from the replies received horn a single advertisement. A notice ottei:i.ng a couple of days* work to an able-bodied man, was responded to 1,7 over 120 applicants, forty of that number seeking the position the same night the advertisement appeared. An advertisement by an Auckland secondary school for a qualified gardrier and handy man drew over sixty applicants. One applicant said lie had walked most of the way from Wellington and had sought work at different places, and another ottered to take the position at a cut rate—an offer that was not entertained. At the moment there are many seeking even a day’s work. Comment has been made upon the large number of applications received for two positions as caretakers, the number of applications being 274 and 189 respectively. It- may not be a- true index of the labor market as the particular berth is regarded in the light of a “soft” job but the fact remains that in one instance over. 100 more applications were received compared with the applications for the same position three years ago. That all is not well in the employment line is emphasised by the many who are trying, with varying success, canvassing for sale of various articles from door to door and some pitiful stories of destitution are being told to housewives' in an endeavour to make a sale.