THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 195, 7 August 1908, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

IMESUUATiON BY. LAIiOK DEPAiU AIEX I'. COXDU'IOX OF THIXGS OVERDRAWN. SOME XiPICAL CASES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last .Xighl. The petition from tihe nncinployed to the Premier lias been considered by the Labor Department, and close investigations made. In its report, the Department says there is considerable distress among carpenters ami painters at present, though many who signed the petition have since obtuincd employment. In regard to the cooks and waiters appearing on the list they arc unfitted for Jiard manual labor, and are more or less out of work at any period of the year. Several men fl'ho signed were merely out of a job for a few days as ordinarily happens in their particular trades.

The Chief inspector says apparently the petition was signed in most cases on persuasion of the persons who orig inated it. Indeed; one of the prime movers admitted that many of the signatures were not bona fide'unemployed, whije in several instances men who signed the petition had no intention of taking work if it were oll'ered. The following are extracts showing the circumstances of sonic out ot over a hundred cases investigated:—

Porter, single, Xew Zealander—Offered work by the Department mid relns.cd job nt Roiigotea; must abusive, and police bad to lie telephoned for. to quieten him. He has signed the petition in two places. Hotel hand—Landlady states that he went away yesterday to get married. J. M says When he wants work he can get it. Painter, aingle—Confidentially informed by his Union secretary that he is too fond of painting his nose to spend much time painting houses. Laborer, single Keen out 'three months. Refused work on railway construction. Used abusive language when ollered it by tbe Department's officers. Said to be employed. Was one of the organisers of the agitation. 11. S gene to Napier for a holiday. U, \V laborer, married, 00 years of age—Three sons working. Does odd jobs, cutting firewood, etc. Is not anxious to get a start. Reckoned it was time he was knocking oil'. Late proprietor of Hotel—He couldn't got work if he would; laborer, away from his lodgings at time of visit. Landlord volunteered information that he was a man who spent a good deal of time in the neighborhood of (lie Queen's statue, implying that he irns not over-fond of work. Laborer—*io trace. Sergeant of police treated the inquiry as a huge joke. gays It has some property and docs not want work, as it would interfere; with his main occupation—drinking beer! THE OTHER SIDE. SHORTAGE OP. FEMALE LABOR. D'un«liii, Last Night. Inquiries made locally go to show th'lt there is a decided shortage of female labor in connection with the boot industry, and that employers are at their wits' end to know how to overcome ihe difficulty. Hoot manufacturers are having a busy time at present, and they say they have offered tempting inducements to girls, lint without elfecl, the result being that they are unable to (ill orders.