ALL MEN WORKING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 13

ALL MEN WORKING

Only .192 Unemployed in Napier FARM-LABOUR POSITIpN There are at present only 1512 unemployed on tixe sustenanoe register in Naper, according to official figures released by the district employraent offieer, Mr. G. Satherley, to-day. Most of these men have been found to be physically unfit to do other than light work, all the fit men liaving been placed in employment. These figures are ver.y encouraging indeed when one considers that three months ago there were 432 men on the register, and at this time 12 months ago there were 354. In answer to a question, the employment officer said that there is a definite reluctance among s'ome young men to take on farm work, but any suggestion that men will not take farm work because Public Worka rates of pay are too attractive is discounted by the fact that, under the present regulations, if men do not accept farm work when it is offered to them, they cannot get jobs on Public Works. Fit men are bound to accept work when it is oflered to them, otherwise they become meligible for further relief benefits. There is not a. great shortage of farm labour ijr Hawke's Bay, Mr. Satherley says, but, where there does appear to be a shortage, the department is meeting the position, when experienced farm labour is" not available, by offering a subsidy to farmers who will take on inexperienced men under the Government's farm-labour assistance plan. This means that, if an inexperienced man is taken on under this scheme, the department will pay £1 per Week (in the case of a man over 21 years of age) and the farmer is reqnired to make the wage up to the award rate.