NOT KEEPING PROMISE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 880, 25 January 1930, Page 1

NOT KEEPING PROMISE

GOVERNMENT AND UNEMPLOYED LABOUR M.P. DISSATISFIED In the opinion of Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., the Government is not honouring its promise to provide a satisfactory solution to the unemployed problem. There is a considerable amount of unemployment in Auckland at present, although the exact figures are not available. The Labour Department is still under instructions from the Government not to release any statistics for publication. Last Monday a statement was issued from Wellington that all men now unemployed in Auckland would be given work by the Public Works Department. Mr. Jordan dispatched a telegram °n Thursday pointing out that although men were applying every day, no work was being found for them. Last evening the following reply came from the Hon. G. W. Forbes: “In reply to your telegram of Thursday, the Labour Bureau has received orders from th€> Public Works Department for Auckland men to be placed °n relief work. No Government department has any work available at present in Auckland city or environs, and work is being provided on roads in the Auckland Province, with the exception of a number of men who are being placed on the GisbornoWairoa railway. “I have perused returns of earnings of co-operative parties on road relief work in the Auckland district, and these indicate clearly that industrious men can earn good wages." Mr. Jordan says that he does not consider the position to be satisfactory. Many of the men are not suited for arduous work on the roads. It was not fair to ask them to leave their homes and take work in the country. •V