UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 88, 12 January 1928, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

POSITION SERIOUS IN PALMERSTON GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED REQUEST FOR WORK ON DEVIATION Palmerston North, January 11. That the unemployment position in Palmerston North and the surrounding district has for some time past been • steadily growing worse, until at the present time ,it is not far short of being really serious, was made very apparent at a special meeting of the Unemployment Committee in Palmerston this ■ morning, the convener, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., presiding. After a prolonged discussion the following resolution was passed:— “That the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works be telegraphed to the effect that as at the present time a large number of men are unemployed in Palmerston North and district, work be provided on the railway deviation.” In explaining the reason of the meeting, Mr Nash stated that he himself had been beseiged by men asking for employment, and he understood that many others in the town had been placed in the same position. This in itself showed that the number of men unemployed was far greater than it should be, and it was necessary that work should be provided. On the railway deviation there was at present a sign up reading “no men wanted,” but he understood that before long another steam shovel was to be allocated the works, and that also a night shift was to be put on,and this would mean that more men would be required. The question still remained, however, as to whether men would not be brought in from other places. Mr. F. Langstone: I think we must take a broad view of the position; the unemployed problem is universal nt the present time, and I think it is the State’s duty to help those out of worky Mr. F. J. Lowden, Inspector of Labour, stated that during the Christmas holidays there had been no applications for work, and up to December 31 the number of names on the list has been reduced to seven. But, he added, the figures for these two weeks were entirely misleading, because for

this week, which was not half over yet, the seven names had gone up to 34, which went to show that there were still too nianj’ men unoccupied. This latter figure, too, did not show the real position, for there were quite a considerable number of men who would not put their names on the books because, as they themselves put> it, they were not yet hard enough up “Any figures that I have,” concluded Mr. 'Lowden, “are below, and well be low, what the position really it.” Mr. Nash: I have had from seven to ten men a day calling on me and asking me what is going to be done. That is what made me think that the position is getting serious. As far as the borough was concerned, stated the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) there would be no work available in the immediate future, though there was a possibility that if the loan proposals were carried in February there might be work later on in the year. He was adverse to making any appeal for funds, however, unless the funds, as had been suggested by Mr. Nash, were to be used solelv for aiding outstanding cases of distress. An attitude that was causing him some concern, said Mr. Lowden, was that being taken up in the cases of single men, who were, after all, the prospective married men. They would not many unless they had some pros pect of being able to keep a wife and family. “We have unemployed in Palmerston North,” continued Mr. Low den, “and there are enough here already without more coming into the town, as is happening. If it were known that there was no work available I think the influx would stop There have been no applications from the farmers that tbev want men for harvesting, and at tin’s time there are usually quite a lot. There have been no applications for work to be done in the country, but vou can go on to anv of the roads and von will see manv men carrying their swags.” Mr. Lanestone: Tn fact, it is interesting to compare the number of luxuri ous motor-cars on the road and the number of unemployed there also. I think manv people place more importance to their own pleasure than to helping those unfortunate ones who are out of work. z The meeting continued to discuss the various aspects of the position, and it was unanimously decided that the two Ministers mentioned be approached in order to have the unemployed of Palmerston North and district given work on the deviation.