THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 194, 6 August 1908, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

STATE 01'' Al'i'AlhS IN WELL-iNti-TON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Aight. Wellington is not u very promising lioul for the general laborer just now, uiil men continue to troop into the city lroin other districts. Air. \V. Beardou, secretary of the Wellington General Laborers' Union, states ma. recently 200 men, employed on the JS'elsoii drainage sclicine, reached the end ot their engagement, and many of them have come to Wellington. "A little wiule ago," added Air. iieardou, "the City Council here employed about 001) men, and now the total lias been reduced by 200 at least, i'hc Karon .borough Council had 70 incu working. Now it has 12. The Aliramar Borougn Council had over 00 men. Thirty have been dismissed. Four private contractors lanil work enough lor about 120 men not long ago, but now tnvir hands number only about UO, and nothing of magnitude lias been started to absorb the labor that lias been realised." Air. Bourdon has written to the Premier enquiring whether it is possible to get more men employed on iul' underground work for electric lilies, and has alsff written a letter to the Alayor aouiu the suburban drainage scheme. Air. W. Morton, city engineer, remarked to-day that some work for the drainage, project was already mirg done. Much of the necessary surveying was finished, and survey parties were now busy in Brooklyn and Island Bay. The contract for pipes would probably be fixed up this week, and soon tiiero should be employment for a good number of men. Matters were being hastened on as much as possible. During -the winter the City Council had done its best to keep men on tire, outdoor stall'. Alost of the heavy work done out of revenue had been continued during this winter, though the Corporation would have saved money by deferring the tasks till the summer, UNEMPLOYED CARPENTERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A meeting of unemployed carpenters was held this afternoon, and was attended by 40 men. The following resolution was passed:—That in view of the largo amount of work contemplated by the Government, including the completion of unfinished buildings and the erection of ne.w ones on the Northern Alain Trunk railway, as shown by the report of the Chief Engineer, this meeting of unemployed carpenters and joiners strongly urges the Government to take immediate steps to push on with this and other works for the purpose of relieving the prevailing lack of employment for carpenters and joiners throughout the Dominion."