UNEMPLOYED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 262, 29 July 1908, Page 6

UNEMPLOYED.

The present winter appears to be a bad ono : for the skilled as. well as for tho unskilled -worker.: Tho information published by The Dominion yesterday concerning the unemployed in the city, supplemented by the unemployed demonstration and deputation to the l-'msiu Minister, /make it, clear that tho number ';of men'out of work just now is larger than usual at this time , ofthe year. ■ The statement that there are six hundred unemployed in Wellington: is. probably an exaggeration, but that tliero is-much distress, prevailing appears' .to [bo certain. The appeal to the Government to provide work met ; with sympathetic attention from Sir Joseph Ward, but tho interview appeared to be quite" barren of practical suggestions. The proposal, to. tunnel the hill,between llhandallah and Ohariu Valley with tho object of opening up land for workers' homes is not an undertaking >to be entered on lightly or hurriedly, and in any case this work\would only absorb a' comparatively small number of men. Moreover, tho distress which exists is not by any means confined to men Capable of doing heavy pick and shovel work. The Hutt railway duplication works, 'which have dragged their ; weary way at a disappointingly slow rate, might in this emergency absorb a good many more men than they are doing at the present time, but here again the work is too heavy for many of the unemployed. There appears to bo a general disinclination on the part of a large number of men to proceed 1 to Government co-operative works, and.in the case of, married men 'this can be easily understood. Uut the single .men are and an unemployed labourer capable of doing the work who will not take • up a job 'offered him deserves little further consideration. We believe that the Triiie Minister is sincerely desirous of assisting the unemployed, but-the difficulty is to find suitable work. Why not sicze the opportunity to initiate a. systematic scheme of tree-planting'! Without at-tempting-to outline,a scheme for the Government, this suggestion is offered as a possible means of assisting 'to' relieve N the distress which so plainly exists. In the easo of Wellington Oity a fair number of the married men could be found employment tree-planting on tho Town ±Jelt .Reserve, while men without'ties could bo sent further; afielcl. The existing depression wo believe to be only temporary', and a couple of months' work 'now would tido the unemployed over the worst part Of the winter and at the. same time make a beginning with a useful and profitable undertaking. • / ; • •