THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 278, 23 November 1893, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE SOUTH.

Ocr Wellington correspondent wribes:—

" By. the courtesy of the Labour Department, I have been enabled to examine, such of the returns of tho district agents of the Bureau for October as have been received to date at tho head office. The agents employed are usually bhe local police officer or factory inspector, and the form of the return which they are required to furnish sets out of the following particulars of such persons as hare made application for work during the preceding month: — Name, trade or occupation, married or single, age, persons dependent on applicant, is applicant strong enough for manual work, how long unemployed, whab is cause of failure to geb work. As- these returns only account for those persons who apply directly to the agent for work, they cannot be taken to show by any means the number of unemployed in the country, bub now bhab the organisation of the Department in the country districts is so widely known, they may fairly be taken as a good index of tho condition of labour. From this standpoint the documents are very satisfactory reading. Oub of a total of sixby-six reports, sixtybhree advise that no applications have been received, so thab it seems fair to infer that in these localities the supply and demand in the labour market are fairly balanced. The sixty-three districts are : Orepuki, Oxford, Ophir, Otautau, Middlemarch, Morueka, Lincoln, Lawrence, Mosgiel, Nelson, Kanieri, Kaiapai, Kaibangaba, Kaihouri, Rumara, Kuroo, Balaclusha, Bluiskiu, Beaby, Brunnerton, Blenheim, Bluff, Coalfi-abe, Uharlesbon. Coliingwood, Clyde, Clinton, Denniston, Fairlio, Green Island, Gore, Ahauri, Amberley, Arrowtown, Pleasant Point, Picbon, Kahaia, Rangiora, Riverton, Roxburgh, Ross, Soubhbridge, Spring Grove, Sbafford, Timaru, Takaka, Wynaham, Port Chalmers, Waitahuna. Of the three remaining districts, St. Bathans reports—"one pick and shovel man, who states that he has been unemployed since February last." Naseby had two registered unemployed ; and Oamaru six, five labourers and one mason. Of this districb bhe agenb reports : " There are a good many of the men sent to Cheviob who have come back and are now walking aboub the town. They lefb tho works with a view of going to the shearing, which is now about starting, and I hope most of tho men now oub of work will be employed. There were several men also who left Waikaiwa of bheir own accord, and have done nothing since they returned.'During the two years and four months the Department has been in existence, it has extended pecuniary help and found employment for (inclusive of families dependent on workers) 23,;*500 persons. So far, 7o per cent, of advances have been repaid to the Department.