WINTER EMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14658, 6 May 1913, Page 5

WINTER EMPLOYMENT.

THE OUTLOOK IN WELLINGTON,

(special to "thjb phess.") WELLINGTON, .May 5. ; According to the reading p£ several prominent local union secretaries, the j winter outlook for labour generally is ■ not encouraging. / . ! Mr E. J. Kennedy, secretary of the i Building Labourers' Union, states that lie has some twenty caJJers frei'ore nooii,' and' he could not place any of them. I Some now ar#ivals from Homo wero'of i tho number, and these were advised to try Auckland, where trade is brisker, an influence, probably, or the approaching Exhibition. Practically nothing is being dono in the suburbs, and within tho last fortnight close on a score of men finished up at the wool stores at Kiiiwara. Mr E. J. Carey (Hotel Employees' Union) expressed the opinion that unless the City Council starts some such reproductive works as tramway extensions, the labouring class will feel tho pinch this winter. Thero is, to his mind, every indication of a hard winter. Tho secretary of the General Ldbour- , ers' Union (Mr M. J. Reardon) is of the ' sarao opinion. "Already," he said, "the pinch is being" felt most keenly by the casual labouring class; that is why our people are so anxious that large employers like the Corporation shall endeavour, as far as possible, to minimise the evil of unemployment by finding continuous work for as many as possible. Quite a number of men have told mc recently they have dono little or no -work for the past couple of months. This morning, coming to the office, I saw no fewer than sixteen unemployed men in Courtenay Place." It was impossible, he added, to judge the number actually unemployed. Usually men called perhaps for a week,' and after that timo gave up the idea of gettins work from that source. The Labour Buroau • reportS'having placed a considerable) number of men during the past fortnight, mostly in the country. So far only two immigrants by tho Ituapehu have called at tho office. ■