STILL SERIOUS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 5, 1 October 1926, Page 10

STILL SERIOUS

THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING

In view of the fact that the year is now drawing to a close, with the spring months almost over, and summer not very far ahead, it is rather surprising to learn that the problem of unemployment, which during the winter season was at its height, is still causing a considerable amount of anxiety not Only in Wellington, but throughout the whole of New Zealand. That this anxiety is not unjustified was shown to a "Dominion” reporter yesterday by figures quoted by Mr. F. W. Rowley, Secretary of the Labour Department.

The latest figures to hand yesterday showed that 317 men are at present out of work in Wellington and are applicants for employment at the Labour Bureau. On Tuesday last, said Mr. Rowley, the committee set up by the City Council to deal with the problem held a meeting, which resulted in employment being found immediately for fifty men. The problem, however, appears still to be of a serious nature. "It may seem difficult to understand," said Mr. Rowley, “why unemployment should continue right into the spring months like this. It is, however, anticipated that before long the usual spring work will employ most of the labour now idle. Shearing will be commencing shortly, while meat slaughtering, general farming operations, building operations, and other general contracts should be going on more extensively now that the winter is over.” Some labour, he pointed out, would soon find an opening with the beginning of onerations in the new railway workshons at Petone. When asked whether there was much skilled labour still out of employment, Mr. Rowley stated that it was generally found- that a little more than half of the applicants for employment were unskilled, labourers generally comprising a little more than half the applicants, while others figuring fairly prominently in the list were such men as builders, clerks, storemen. packers, firemen, and engineers. Engineering was about the only- really skilled trade in which unemployment had been at all continuous, though others had been affected. The Department had received applications from bakers and pastrycooks, blacksmiths, carpenters, joiners, clerks, drivers, engine-drivers, engineers, farm hands, gardeners, cooks, mechanics, painters, shop assistants and salesmen, seamen and firemen, storemen, and packers. In addition to this varied assortment of applicants, there were some, though in smaller numbers, from other trades. In regard to the factors which he. considered responsible for unemployment generally, without any reference to conditions in New Zealand, Mr. Rowley remarked that these were numerous. Over-importation was often a contributing factor, while a continued adverse trade balance was bound to affect stability generally, and prevent that degree of developnient which would otherwise be possible. As an example of unexpected factors which may cause unemployment, Mr. Rowley mentioned the fact that many steamers had changed over from coal as a driving agency to oil. This, he said, had thrown quite a number of firemen and other seafaring men out of work, while it had also had an effect on watersiders and coal miners. When it was suggested to Mr. Rowley that perhaps it was the men’s own fault that they could not find employment, he expressed a contrary opinion. Most of the men, he said, were quite willing, and of a generally satisfactory type. There had been a fair amount of willingness on the part of men employed in a “collar-and-tie” occupation to turn to other lines of industry, when this was possible. There were certain difficulties in the way here, however. In the majority of cases they could not take up skilled occupations, for the simple reason that they knew nothing about them. They usually turned to ,the heavy, unskilled work, for which, as a rule, they were not physically fitted. ■

“The Labour Department had done its best to relieve the situation,” said Mr. Rowlev. “The officers of the Department had taken steps to make it known generally, not only to fanners, but to all manner of employers in town and country, that they had many applicants for employment. Our offices are, of course, co-ordinated in such a manner that if an employer wants labour at one place, and it is not available there, we can readilv obtain it from other places where it i's available.” It was mainly from employers of labour in the country, such, for instance, as fanners, that the Department expected applications. It was country emnloyers whom they thought should apply to them, as in the towns the employers had their own means of finding labour they wanted. Z Mr. Rowlev pointed out that New Zealand was essentially a country which could expect unemployment, owing to the fact that its prosperity depended to a verv great extent on seasonal occupation’in the primary industries. In a country where secondary industries were the chief occupations, work could be carried on consistently during the year, thus obviating one of the chief causes of unemployment—seasonal occupations. with a corresponding slackness in the off-season. One means of remedying matters, he suggested, would'be to trv to arrange for work to be done in the winter months which would otherwise be carried out in the summer. This would have the effect of evening up employment generally. There had been a certain amount of improvement in New Zealand since the middle of winter, when the trouble was at its worst, but not very much. The figures recorded by the Department reached their peak in June last, when 2247 men throughout the whole of the country were out of work. Since that time the figures had fallen steadily, the latest statement of the position showing that 1800 men were unemployed. “As the shearing season develops,” said Mr. Rowlev, “there is no doubt that the position will be greatly improved.” MAYOR'S APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS ONLY SIX WEEKS’ FUNDS IN HAND. ■

“At the present rate of expenditure the funds still available to the City Council for unemployment relief will probably run out in six weeks, and I am therefore anxious that residents and business people who have work in view, no matter what its nature may be, should put it in hand as soon as possible, and so help to relieve the situation." This statement was made bv the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) yester-

day regarding the recrudescence of the unemployment problem in the city. “The unemployment problem was tackled early this year,” continued Mr. Norwood, “and the position was also eased by the large amount of building that is going on in the city, but the very fact that work was available in the city brought another complication in that it led to an influx of people from the country, and from other parts of New Zealand. It appeared that for a time we had comfortably dealt with the problem, but, largely on account of the influx from other parts, the position has again become rather acute. “There are at the present time 319 men registered on the Labour Department's books, and this, considering the population of Wellington, is regarded as rather serious. “I have called a meeting of the L'nemplovment Committee, consisting of representatives of all local bodies surrounding Wellington, and tl’.e Public Works and Labour Departments in order that we may draw up plans to meet the situation which has arisen. Since the first meeting of this committee about 800 men have been assisted in finding employment, for the most part in good, capital works which will not create any economic waste. The Government has also helped very materially, finding employment for about 300 men. , “The men employed on relict works about, the city now number about 90, A grade men. They have almost completed the road round the sea coast from Lyall Bay to Breaker Bav, and have finished work on the Alexandra Drive, along the Mount Victoria Road, giving a safe way for all vehicles and outlooks second to none in the world. A considerable number are busv with the impioving of Hornsey Road, which will greatly improve access to the I-loughton Valley district. “The Government has undertaken to find work for 40 men immediately, and the Mavor of Lower Hutt,. Mr. W. T. Strand, through his council, is endeavouring to open up certain essential work ryithout delay. “It is considered that within a month the shearing sheds in different parts of the country will open up for the season, and that this will bring about a marked easing of conditions in the city, but there will be difficulties in the meantime unless, as I have suggested, those who have work m view, however small it may be, are able to assist the local bodies and Government in providing employment.

REQUEST FOR PENSIONS

Dominion Special.

Christchurch, September 13.

The Benevolent Committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board at its meeting this afternoon received a deputation consisting of six members of the unemployed, who isked that pensions should ’be provided for men unable to get work. The proceedings were not open to the Press. A representative of the Press was informed by the men that they had asked for a pension while out of work, the test of unemployment to be registration with the Labour Department. Mrs. H. I''. Herbert, who had presided, had claimed, they said, that there had alwais been adequate, measures for reef. The deputation was later informed by the secretary of the board that the committee had no legal power to grant an economic pension of any kind. He assured the deputation that anyone coming to the committee for relief would be supplied with necessaries until the committee had an opportunity to investigate, and that each case would be judged upon its merits. After temporary relief had been given applicants would l.e called upon to do work representing the value of 10s. worth of groceries. LITTLE CHANGE IN DUNEDIN “FfGURES NOT ALARMING.” Dominion Special. Dunedin, September 30. The unemployment problem in the city shows little change one way or the other. Each day a few men are placed and a handful of applications are received. The number of names at present on the Labour Bureau’s books is 179', an increase of 10 over yesterday's figures. The figures fluctuate between 140 and 180. There is no great distress among the workless, but an appeal lias been made for a few prominent citizens to subscribe £1 per week until the situation eases. Some of the applicants, cf course, do not really want work, and making allowances' of these the figures are not alarming.