SEEKING WORK.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 10

SEEKING WORK.

INFLUX OF AUSTRALIANS

PROBLEM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD. (PSF.SJ ASSOCIATION IZLEGBAiI.) WELLINGTON, November 20. Some important matters will probably come before the Unemployment Board at its first meeting next Tuesday, and it may be that some difficulty will arise if it is found that the Board is not invested ,ith power to deal with certain problems which have arisen. These problems were mentioned to-day by an official of an important organisation closely concerned in the matter of employment. On the preceding day he had received a call from a skilled mechanic who had arrived with his wife and children from Australia on the last Sydney steamer, lie wanted assistance in getting a job.

"He may by a:i excellent craftsman and a desirable kind of man to bring to New Zealand in normal times," said the official, "but at the present time every man who comes over here from Australia for work is decreasing the chance of one of our own people still looking for a job. We have a lot of skilled as well as unskilled labour out of work, and no encouragement should be given to any workers from other countries to come to New Zealand at the present time." The official pointed out that Canada had already refused to allow such people to enter, and he mentioned that nine or ten who went 011 the Niagara recently were sent back as they had not the means to support themselves for any length of time in the event of not finding work. Another important point that was raised was whether any newcomers from Australia would be allowed to partake of the benefits of the Unemployment Fund before they had been in the country for a definite period just as they had to be here 12 months before obtaining the franchise. Even if they were prevented from benefiting from the Unemployment Fund they would, if destitute, corai; on the funds of the Hospital Board so a hope was expressed that Home Minister or Department would have authority to prohibit any persons landing in New Zealand unless they had means of supporting :hem,selves for some months should they not succeed in getting work. The Australian who called 011 the official said that several other men in similar circumstances had arrived on the same steamer, and it was added that working people had been coming to New Zealand by every steamer of late.