ECONOMIC UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1927, Page 2

ECONOMIC UNEMPLOYMENT.

DISCUSSION BY COUNTY COUNCIL

At yesterday’s metcing of the Council when a circular was read from the Labour Department enquiring as to unemployment in the district. MiWells said that when the sawmill at Woodstock closed down some twenty men were thrown out of employment. He communicated with Air Seddon, -M.i’., who saw the Minister of Public. Works and work was offered at Doroly Falls track at the relief wages, Pis and 9s per day. In the meantime tile share-binders of the mill had gone back to work and some of the other men had found employment elsewhere. There were two men oui'y available for the work, which it appeared was reserved specially lor the Woodstock milllmnds out of employment. Tho Forest Service, however, had put off a number of men, and these were willing to go if places were provided. It was resolved to notify the Government Overseer of Ihc position, it being stated also some towsmen unemployed would accept the work, and had been directed to apply to the Public Works Department at Greymouth.

Air Ward thought the Government deserved a word of praise for the effort to find work for the unemployed. Taking in all the circumstances tile men were being afforded an opportunity to fend for themselves instead of relying on others to tide them over n difficult period. On that account tno Government deserved credit for what was being done. Mr Chinn concurred in that view, but thought the present opportunity was one which might be used to plant flax on Crown lands, and the Government would be recouped in four years for the outlay. There were several aieas in Westland which could be so treated, and the work would Ire of economic: advantage. In the North Island the value of the flax industry was better appreciated than in the South Island, but as good a commodity could be turned out here. The Chairman said the suggestion was a valuable one, and might be taken up by the Forestry Department which at present was spending vast sums of money, which the Director had said was experimental work. They knew what tree planting was being done hereabouts, and knowing the district and the hush they must realise that serious waste was going on. The present system of planting such as they saw along the Boss road was doomed to failure, as the native scrub would kill the introduced trees in all but isolated eases. It was remarkable that the policy which was costing so much and producing so little was persisted in. The failure had been predicted here at the outset, and it was regrettable that the prediction wnheing justified by what, was happening. The Prime Alinister had said the best lie coni',l offer unemployed was work m tree planting which meant more wasteful outlay. There was a good deal in Air Chinn’s suggestion regarding flax planting, hut that was a matter for the Forest Service to take up, and lie did not see it was within the duty of the Council to make a suggestion along those lines in nil the circumstances. The matter then dropped.