The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, JUNE 30th, 1921. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, JUNE 30th, 1921. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Tuk Government is not handling the unemployment situation in a very satisfactory way at all events a.s far as this district is concerned. It is uiitortunate that unemployment is increasing hereabouts, and with the prospect ol additional sawmills shortening hands or stopping altogether, the ranks of the unemployed will grow. There is no proper concerted action in dealing with the unemployed here. Men drift in from tin* north seeking work, where even local men cannot find employment. Local men are being sent north to so-called “relief” jobs, and so the situation is at toss purposes, and the workmen arc

iuti Co ox Ira expens'd in travelling amt. A case in point ar#<o last week ,vlii'ii the local Labor Af'cnt arranced for a party of men to >j;o to the Monua district for road worjf, and were ini nr 1 lied that at the contract rates they Mould earn not less than a stipulated sum. When they reached their supposed destination they were informed the work was elsewhere. u*d had to move on to the Bell Hill locality over roii erli country: Attain they readied their destination, hut by this time the weather had broken, and they had a trying time endeavouring to pitch lamp. Eventually they had to seek what shelter they could in a where nearby. 'J'he next difficulty was the lack of tools which the IJenartment had not supplied, nor instructions as to the work to be clone. In the peltimi; rain they made their way hack to th. railway line, and the wayside station was their only shelter for the nieht. The nurtv here disbanded, half of thorn i umber up the line in search of j nrployment and the remainder found their way hack to flreymoiitli seek ini' an explanation for the wifu-ttoose chase they had been sent on in search of work. The only apparent explanation hev received was that someone had cindered and that an official offered to ve them a fresh start and see they ,ot work; while on the other hand an,; other'official told them the jon was not i any stooh to u married man with

family as the maximum amount they

could earn in the back country where supplies were costly was 12/- per day. In these circumstances the men returned to Hokitika and are still without work. If this is to be regarded as a typical case, then the Department’s scheme is being very badly managed. It seems strange that men arc being sent away north when there is plenty of work waiting about here, if the Government would issue the authorities to local bodies now with-held. The works arc urgent, and with labor available, they should be pushed on rather than actually being vetoed. It does i.ot seem fair to offer these “relief” rates to the men. They have to go into hush country and put up with all sort- of inconveniences for earning a wage which will not compensate for the cost incurred. In the case of married men. it will mean that families Skill go behind or deny themselves, if the head of the household has to seek to maintain two homes on 12/- per diem, With broken weather at this time of the year, and the limited day light four days outside work in a week might he considered a fair average. The position in many cases will become acute, and it would be preferable to find work for married men unemployed on necessary works near their homes. As the situation is . nol likely to improve immediately the ' local bodies should consider the question ot inducing the Government tr authorise local grants and arrange for the works to he done on the eo-i perative system. Better work and a fairer return for the workmen wouid result, and theip would he more satisfaction generally. .