OUT OF WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1921, Page 5

OUT OF WORK.

MANY IDLE IN AUCKLAND. GOVERNMENT RELIEF WORKS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The position in the labor market remains about the same, the ranks of the unemployed being added to slightly from day to day and the avenues of Work being scarce. The Labor Department has about 350 names on its cards, and this week to date has been able to place only eight men, all with private employers. Returned soldiery out of work are dealt witlt by the Repatriation Department, which has a list of over 100 unemployed. Seventeen names were entered on the Labor Party’s unemployment register ftt the Trades Hall to-day, making a total of nearly 500. Though a few men have been placed in employment, the list is steadily increasing. Mr. Savage, M.P., who is in charge of the bureau, said the situation was becoming very serious for many of the men who had reached the end of their resources. There were no means of computing the actual number of men out of work in t'he city, since many are on the department list as well as the Trades Hall list. It is stated, however, that numerous unemployed have not approached either bureau. Not only are several members of unions out of work, but numbers of warehouse employees have been discharged within the last week or two. A saddlery factory, where 50 hands were employed last year, now only employs 15, and all are working half time, rrerely making up stock. Over 100 members of the engineering trade are stated to be out of work. Inquiries e’icited the fact that the prospects are none too bright for the winter. Pri.ate employers are in many ca;“s shortening hands, wh ie those engaging fresh labor require only a small percentage of that offering. No works of any magnitude are being carried out by any local bodies, but every effort is being made by the Public Works ’Department to find work for the most necessitous eases. At the same time it has had no openings up jo the present. Next week the first of two road-making works will be opened at Putaruru, and as soon as arrangements can be completed a second job of a similar description will be commenced in the Te Awamutu district. A few men will be able to secure work on the Putaruru job next week.

A reduced scale of wages is to be paid by the Government for these jobs, which are strictly relief works. Road-making is to be carried out as piecework, and the department will' give the men engaged piecework sufficient to enable them to earn 10s a day with an extra 2s a day for married men. It is hoped before very long that the department .will be able to employ most men who fail to obtain work in other directions.