Unemployment

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1921, Page 4

Unemployment

GOVERNMENT BELIEF WORK. AUCKLAND. May 20 ’ The position in the labour market remains about the same, the ranks of the unemployed being added to slightly from day to day, and avenues of work being scarce. The Labour Department

this week to date hits .been able to place only eight men, all with private employers. Returned soldiers out of work arc dealt with by ibi? Repatriation Department, which lias a list of over 100 unemployed. Seventeen names were entered in the Labour Party’s un-

eiuploymcnt register at Trades Hall today, making a total of nearly 500. Though a few men have been placed in employment, the list is steadily increasing. Mr Savage, M.P., who is in charge of the bureau, said that the situation was becoming very serious for many of the men, who bail reached the end of their resources.

There are no means of computing the actual number of men out of work in the city, since many are on the Dejiartimyit list as well as that at Trades Hall. It is stated, however, that numerous unemployed have not approached either bureau. Not only are several members of unions out of work, but numbers of warehouse employees have been discharged within the last week or two. A saddlery factory where fifty bands were employed last year now employs only fifteen, all working half-time merely making up stock. Over 100 members of the engineering trade are stated to be out of work.

Inquiries elicited the fact that prospects arc none too bright for the winter. Private employers are in many cases shortening bands, while those engaging fresh labour require only a small percentage of that offering. No works of any magnitude are being carried out by any local bodies.

Every effort is being made by the Public Works Department to find work for the most necessitous cases. At the same time, it has bad no openings up to the present. Next week the first of two road-making works will be opened at Putaruru, and as soon as arrangements can be completed a second job of a similar description will be commenced in the Te Awamutu distriot. A few men will be able to secure work on the Putaruru job next week. A reduced scale of wages is to be paid by the Government for these jobs, They are strictly relief works. The road-making is to he carried out as piecework. The Department will give the men engaged piecework sufficient to enable them to earn 10s a day, with an extra 2s a day for married men. It is hoped that before very long the Department will be able to employ most of the men who fail to obtain work in other directions. ’