UNEMPLOYED.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13159, 4 July 1908, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH

"If all the unemployed in Christchurch put their names on the employment books it would be a revelation to those people who say that there aro no troemployed in this city." This statement was mad© yesterday by a union official to a "Press" reporter, who had drawn attention' to the alleged scarcity of-work msevoral trades in Wellington. Hβ proceeded to say that a fair number of names wore on the employment books, but he doubted if tlley represented one-tenth of the men who were actually out of work. Personally, he knew of a number of tailors who were unemployed, while others were on halftime. Plasterers (except first-class men) found difficulty in getting work, while there were any number of painters, carpenters and general labourers waiting for work. The men seemed to havo an objection- to putting their names on the employment books of their union. If they could He induced to enter J jlmr names it would be seen the position of affairs was far less rosy than was generally supposed. Another gentleman who was approached snid that the number >f unskilled labourers out of work had inoreased during the past month. A number of carpenters and joiners weie now on the idlo list, but as soon en the roofs were on the big business premises cow being erected in the city there would be work enough to absorb the present surplus. The wet weather was in a measure responsible for the dearth of painters' work, but the falling off in the erection of small cottages might also be accountable. As far as h<> could learn, there was plenty of work for youths and girls. The building trade was quite as busy as usual at this time of the year, but if it had not boen for tho great fire there would havo been a shortage of work.