LOCAL UNEMPLOYED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 10

LOCAL UNEMPLOYED

1 WORK AVAILABLE FOR NUMBER WHAT GOVERNMENT HAS DONE LAST YEAR’S HEAVY BILL

Immediate work for a num. ber of the local unemployed men was announced by the Act-ing-Minister of Labour (Hon. R. A. Wright) when replying yesterday to a largely attended deputation of unemployed organised by the District Council of the Alliance of Labour. The Minister also outlined what the Government had already done to meet the situation, including an expenditure on relief works during the last financial year of £472,671. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P.', who introduced the deputation, said it represented about one-quarter of the men out of work in Wellington. The returns of the Labour Department showed the figure at over 500. Mr. F. Cornwell, president of the district council of the Alliance of Labour, considered that the 500 registrations of unemployed represented only about half of the actual number- of men out of

work. He submitted that the position to-day was Worse than at the same period last year, and he predicted that unless something definite were done immediately there would be between 1500 and 2000 men out of work in Welling- - ton within the next six months. The Government, he asserted, had failed to face the unemployment question, which had now become exceedingly serious. Mr. Cornwell reiterated the demand of organised labour that standard rates of pay should be given the men engaged on relief works. Quick. Action Wanted. According to Mr. A. Cook, president of the Alliance of Labour, the Government had failed in a duty that should have been carried out, notwithstanding that it had had last winter as an example. Four months ago members of the Cabinet had given an assurance that the Government had the situation in hand, yet to-day a state of affairs existed worse than that which obtained last year. The Government was not faced with unemployable men, but men genu.inely in need of employment and only too willing to work in order to keep themselves and their families. It was the bounden duty of the Government to act and to act quicky to relieve those . who needed assistance. 'The Minister: A large number of the

J. 11V A-LIUJBLLI > Z 1 Jlll£t> XIU LUU CL UL lilt' men present are single, are they not? Mr. Cook: A good number, but there is a sprinkling of married men with large families. Mr. Fraser : Will the married men put up their hands? A large array of hands was raised. Continuing, Mr. Cook said it was Intended also Jo approach the local authorities, but it was considered that the Government should give the lead. Standard rates of pay were asked for. Mr. 11. Semple, secretary of the General Labourers’ Union, said that without indicting the Government, the deputation wished to impress on it the gravity of the situation, which was nothing short of tragic. The men did not want charity, but profitable employment. Re- ■ ferring to two publications issued by Ihe Government Publicity Office, Mr. Semple said that if he were living in a cramped village in England, and read some of the statements in the booklets he would fly to New Zealand. Some of the statements were bordering on “wicked falsehoods.” Life for many of the unemployed in Wellington was a sheer y tragedy; in fact, mothers had come into

his office and told him that unless something happened they were “going over the wharf.” The Mayor of Wellington had stated that as far as the City Council was concerned not a penny would be expended on unemployment relief work unless it were subsidised by the Government. At present there were men sleeping out in Wellington every night of the week. ■ Voices: It’s a fact. Mr. Semple: The other night two men had to sleep in a pipe on the Hutt Road, because it was raining. I appeal to you as a Cabinet Minister, as a Christian, and as a humanitarian, to put your back into this job and tackle it. Surprise was expressed by the 'Minister that so many young men were Unable to find work. Mr. Fraser inquired from the men What class of trade was sought. A chorus of replies included painting, paperhanging, blacksmithing, bootmaking, mechanical engineering, riveting, and moulding. A Difficult Problem. Replying to the representations, the Minister said he knew what unemployment meant, having had personal experience of it in the old days. He had been quite unable to obtain work, and had he not struck out on his own account he might have been unemployed yet. No Government in the world had been able to Solve satisfactorily the problem of unemployment. Various schemes had been adopted in different parts of the Empire, but no satisfactory solution had been arrived at. If some Utopian scheme were evolved in New Zealand, and there were a job for every boy and girl on leaving school. New Zealand would be a paradise for everyone; and it would be a question of dealing with the outsiders who would flock here from other countries and snow: us under. He supposed, however, that that could be controlled. A remark .by Mr. Fraser prompted the Minister to suggest that when the member for Wellington Central became

uvi ivi »» viuivu ti hi utiumc Prime Minister he would be able to solve all those problems; Mr. Fraser: I could make a better job of it than the present Government. (Loud applause.) “The Labour Government in Australia was not able to solve the problems,” retorted , the Minister,, who said he did not think they could get from the present Parliament or any other a Government that would bring down some scheme that would automatically prevent the position that had arisen to-day. Interjections Not Shunned. A reference to the curtailment of immigration was followed by an interjection from the body of the hall: What about the 45 school boys. sft. lOin. in height, who arrived from Home recently? Mr. Cornwell: We asked you chaps

before we brought you here not to interrupt. but to listen. (Hear, hear.) The Minister: That’s very good of you, Mr. Cornwell, but I don’t mind a little .interruption—it’s getting me ready for the election. (Laughter.) Wage Reduction Not Favoured. Continuing, the Minister said that in the case of his own firm wages above the arbitration rate had always been paid. He was not in favour of reducing wages. It was not fair to say that the Government was reducing wages and taking advantage of men’s necessities because it was not. The Government would be glad to know that all the men were placed at fl a day. “There is no idea of reducing wages,” said the Minister. “Relief work is simply a makeshift to tide the men over until they can secure other jobs.” “I will venture to say that if any body of men could produce a legitimate scheme, that was reasonable, to overcome unemployment, the Government would give it serious and Sympathetic consideration.” The Minister said he imagined the publicity Department pamphlets referred to had been compiled when times were . better in New Zealand. Mr. Cornwell: They were written in 5826.

Unemployed Teachers. Concerning the absorption of young people leaving schools, . the Minister thought something should be done by the manufacturers and employers of labour, who had means of instructing apprentices, to take on at least their complement of apprentices and thus give those young people an opportunity of

learning their trade. Unemployed teachers were _ being gradually absorbed, and he did not think there would be any unemployed at the end of the year. The Government’s Efforts. Outlining what the Government had done in its endeavour to meet the unemployment situation, the Minister said that the total expenditure by the Government on relief works during the last financial year was £472,671, as follows: Public Works Department ... £379,565 Forestry Department 18,060 Subsidies to local bodies for relief works under Imprest Supply Act, No. 1, 1927 .. 75,106 £472,671 “Of these amounts,” said the Minister, “£25,255 was expended on Government works in the Wellington district, and subsidies paid to Wellington local bodies totalled £32,387 (including £25,970 paid to the Wellington City Council). In addition, the expenditure in connection with Wellington men on relief work in the Nelson district was about £15,000. The total cost to the Government of providing work for Wellington unemployed was. therefore, about £73,000. Since April 1, 1927, approximately 6800 men have been sent to Government relief works, and 1800 of these have been placed since February 13 last. During the period April 1, 1927, to date, approximately 3500 left relief works of their own accord, including 690 since February 13 last.

A voice: Yes, left because they could not get enough out of it. Another voice: Could you keep a home and two children going on 12s. a day? The Minister: “I think I have had to do it on less.” The Minister went on to say that the number of men sent to relief works in the Wellington district since April 1, 1927, to date totalled 550; and in addition approximately 370 men had been sent from Wellington to relief works in the Nelson district, making a total of 920. Of that number, 286 had been placed since February 13 last. At the present time there were 137 men on relief works in the Wellington district, and about 180 Wellington men in the Nelson province, a total of 317. The Dominion total was 2329. Placing of Further Men. “Arrangements have been made,” said the Minister, “for the placing of an additional 165 Wellington men as follows: “Taita Gorge—Thirty men to start on Monday or Tuesday. "Pahautanui-Waikanae Main Highway—Twenty men to start early nextweek. “Wellington-Napier Main Highway, in Wairarapa district, 45 mens; Rim'utaka Hill, 50 men; and Whakataki-Matai-kona Itoad, 20 men, who could start as soon as camps were erected. ’ / “In addition to these men already arranged for, it is hoped to place about

100 men on tree planting in the Nelson district at the end of this month. “The total number of men on public works throughout New Zealand at present (including relief works) is 11,038. as compared with , a weekly average of 10,000 during the financial year ended March 31, 1927, and a weekly average of 8309 during the year ended March 31, 1927.” Mr. McKeen: Are any men to be engaged on the Tawa Flat deviation? The Minister: They have as many there as they can possibly take. However, I will look into the matter and see if it is possible to increase' the staff. Local Body Subsidies. Regarding the subsidising of local body expenditure on unemployment relief, the Minister announced that the Government had decided to follow the same policy as had- been adopted last year. He trusted the local authorities would again this year perform the useful work they did in connection with unemployment last year. The Minister predicted that if the Mayor appealed publicly for funds there would be a good response. Relief Wages. The Minister promised to place before Cabinet the representations touching the payment for relief work. He did not think there was much prospect of the Government revising its policy. DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN Between 200 and 250 unemployed men assembled in the Concert Chamber yesterday afternoon, when, through the instrumentality of Messrs. R. McKeen, M.P., A. Cook, F. Cornwell, and R. Semple, the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) was made acquainted with conditions of employment in Wellington at the present time, and asked to take immediate steps to provide work for the willing workers. Mr. Cornwell said that the unemployed position to-day was even more serious than it was twelve months ago. A difficulty had been experienced in getting men to register when they saw so many ahead of them; consequently the register at the Labour Bureau as an indication of the position was not correct. A point this year was the large number of young, strong, able-bodied men who were finding it practically impossible' to get work. He recalled the good work of the committee set lip last year, and the huge amount of work which had been done in all parts of the city. That work had turned out as satisfactorily# as any work ever done in the history of Wellington, in some instances even better than if done by contract. He urged upon the Mayor the necessity of doing something immediately to relieve the acute distress that was the direct result of unemployment. They wanted the authorities to put some work in hand, rather than that they should have to go before the Social Welfare

nave to go oeiore tne social Welfare Committee, which was degrading and against, human nature. He hoped for the well-being of the city'that the Mayor would give the matter his serious and immediate attention. Mr. Cook said he hoped that some immediate action would be taken by the City Council and suburban bodies in and around Wellington in order to relieve the situation. He considered that at present there were 1000 men unemployed in the city. His union (New Zealand Workers’ Union) mostly consisted of country workers, but in spite of their best efforts to keep them in the country many had been forced to flock into the cities, as they had found it impossible to get work in the country. Some of them had tramped hundreds of miles to farms and stations without getting anything to do, until they were forced to come to the city. The position with other men was that they had to pawn every stick of furniture—they were right down to bedrock. Several of these men would not. appeal for charitable aid—it was against human nature to do so. It spoke well for the honesty of the people of Wellington that there were not more cases of theft, breaking and entering. If his wife and family were starving he would not be above smashing a sheet of glass to obtain bread

for them. If work was to be provided, he expressed the hope that standard rates of pay would obtain. The giving of 12s. and 9s. per day—the old relief work scale—was not going to help very much. Married men should not be offered less than 2s. an hour, as all that was needed to secure the bare necessaries of life. A Serious Problem. Mr. Semple said that the state of penury and want that existed in this young country presented a great problem. Though he did not wish to introduce anything in the nature of party politics, he did think the Government was somewhat to blame. There was a serious aspect to the unemployed problem at the present time. Many young men were searching for work, but no one wanted them. There come to him every day young men of IS, some of whom had matriculated, asking for under-rate permits to lift timber or something else, because thfx were not developed sufficient-

ly to do a full man’s work. ‘lt is a very serious thiing,” said Mr. Semple, “for those leaving school to be drafted straight away into the ranks of the unemployed; to be soured by the thought that they are not wanted, and to come to regard the country as an enemy rather than as a friend. The State holds an obligation to allow such young men to render social service in order that they may live decently. We don’t want charity—the word is repugnant and repulsive! We want avenues of employment opened up, that our young men may live decent, honourable, and upright lives.” Mr. Semple also said that there were scores of young women unable to obtain employment, and whilst such was a tragedy to a man it was double tragedy to a woman. There was plenty to do in New Zealand. They could get the money all right if there were courage and statesmanship behind it. The Mayor in Reply. The Mayor reminded those present that' the unemployment problem was one he had been faced with ever since the day he took office, and he also traced that lie knew what, it was to be without bread, as he had at one time “been right up against it.” There was no more pitiful sight in the world than a strong man, able and willing to work, and unable to tret if. The misery that was beimr ex-

get it. The misery that was being experienced was not alone known to the Trades Hnll. The Mayor’s room knew every bit as much about it as the Trades Hall, as all day long and every day there was a ceaseless stream of men, women and children looking for help and assistance, aiid his trouble was that he was not able to help as much as he Would like to do. Last year when he was installed as "Mayor of the city, he had brought forward within two hours a plan to borrow a sum of money for relief work. That was not the outcome of any meeting. He saw the need and attempted to meet it. And this year he had by no means been idle. He bad endeavoured to get the Government to state how far it was prepared to go, but so far he had no official communication from them. Last year the sum of £BO,OOO had been expended on works, and he was pleased to say the city had got an excellent return for the money. Though some of the works had not been done, as well as he would have liked, others were as well done as they would have been by contract. “As soon as I receive official word from the Government I will see that relief works are started,” said Mr. Troup. “We have plenty of work —plenty! I think, however, in view of the serious position, that we will not have the same success in appealing to the public as we did last year, and for that reason the Government should help to a greater degree. I think, the public gave £11,300, which carried’ with it a £1 for £1 subsidy, making about £23,000. If we are ,not going to get the money voluntarily this year it will have to come out of the rates, in which case I think the Government ought to go fifty-fifty with us. As soon as I hear from the Hon. R. A. Wright I will do something toward obtaining a loan and will push on with the work.” j “Things Must Improve.” “I honestly think,” added the Mayor, “that things are going to improve. We are £15,000,000 better off than we were last year, and I can't see how that can fail to influence the position. Fifteen millions of money is a very large sum, and divided among all our people—and we are. not many—it . should go a long way. I sincerely hope that the troubles of the last three years are going to come to an end. In my reading of the financial barometer things must improve from now on.” (Applause.) Assurances. Mr. McKeen mentioned that they had that morning seen, the Acting-Minister of Labour (Hon. R. A. Wright), and had obtained from him the assurance that the Government would assist on the same lines as last year. After leaving the Minister lie had called on the officers of the Public Works Department, and had there been given an assurance that the £1 for £1 subsidy would be paid on all moneys collected and spent on labour cost. He suggested that the Mayor should at once get into touch with the Government and then call a special meeting of the council and get to work. “As soon as I get official word from the Government,” said the Mayor, “I will eall the council together.’!