THE SIN OF ASKING FOR A JOB

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1928, Page 7

THE SIN OF ASKING FOR A JOB

(Sydney Bulletin). (These continual strikes and stoppages are not only ruining the trade of the country; they arc spoiling, tin sailor men individually. He is losin the habit of work, and the union riiic on picking up is accentuating it. Before the union made its idiotic rulo that no man is to personally ap>!y for a job, the man out of work had the right Of hustling himself a bit in looking for another, and al least got some exercise. 'Though it was often a. weary business, there was some interest in it and the satisfaction of trying. Tf his unemployment was owing to a hold-up or strike of seme other union, lie could keep on until he found a ship’s officer who would give him a definite promise ot work when the trouble was over. Then he could go home, dig up the garden, mend the fowlyard gate and do the hundred and one other jobs that a sailor’s wife saves up for her man—knowing he was sure of liis job. Vow all he can do is to go daily and •-it in a waiting shod until some ship’s officer who knows him happens to snot him amongst the crowd. And this spotting is not easy. Yet the sailor has less chance of picking his ship than a ship’s mate [has of getting the men he really wants. He may be offered a job in a ship ho doesn’t want to go in, or in a trade he doesn’t like; yet if he turns it down it may be weeks before he gets another chance. Most of these irritating domestic* rules originate at meetings at the picking up places, organised by the discontented and carried by The loudvoiced minority. A man doesn’t got a job on bis merits', because tbc mate picking up men has no chance to find out what those merits are; apd ',o men lose interest in their jcalling. And far too often when a job does come along the habit of working is gone.