WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1922, Page 4

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED.

FORTY-SEVEN MEN ENGAGED. OOSTING £4O A DAY. As an outcome of the public meeting held at New Plymouth last week and the setting up of a committee to deal with the unemployment problem, work has been foiind for forty-seven men. It will be remembered that a sub-com-mittee was appointed to draw up a scheme whereby those * out of work could be temporarily employed in tasks which would ultimately be of public utility. Twenty-six men are at work at Western Park, where a considerable amount of earthwork is being done, the men at present being engaged on forming terraces round the sports arena. Seven drays are being used to cart away the spoil. The work of gorse grubbing at the, abattoirs and at the cemetery has absorbed thirteen men, whilst eight men, with three drays, are at work at Gilbert Street, filling in the hollow between the end of that street and Victoria Road.

Some of the men started work on Tuesday, the balance being put on the following day. The system adopted is to employ men week about, thus the men engaged this week will be paid off on Tuesday, when new gangs will be employed for the next week, after which the men originally employed will come on again. The men, as a whole, are said to be working well and giving entire satisfaction.

Some indication of the cost of the work may be gleaned from the fact that wages, hire of teams and drivers etc., amount to between £4O and £'42 a day. The need for additional funds is apparent if the relief work started is to be continued for any length of time. On Monday about eight or ten men will bo engaged in earthwork at the breakwater for the purpose of extending the Harinr Board’s yard.