TIME UP TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 10

TIME UP TO-DAY

ABSORBTION OF UNEMPLOYED PROMISE WORK FOUND FOR 5000 MEN The Government’s undertaking to absorb “in five weeks” all the unemployed wanting work, is due for fulfillment to-day, and several references to that fact were made during the debate on the Public Works Statement in the House of Representatives. “A full statement on the subject will be made on Friday, when the five weeks are up,” said the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom), replying to questions in the House early yesterday morning. Stating that he did not want to anticipate that announcement, Mr. Ransom nevertheless gave the Information that work had so far been found for 4970 men, which included 775 men due to be discharged from the Forestry Department. Of that number 2867 have been taken on by the Public Works Department, 1397 by the Forestry Department, 440 by the Railways Department, 200 by the Lands Department, and 60 by the Agricultural Department. Suggested Work. In the House yesterday afternoon Mr. W. H. Field (Reform, Otaki) gave notice to ask the Minister of Railways whether in order to provide work close to their homes for the unemployed of Wellington city and district, the Government would: (1) proceed with the work of duplicating the main trunk line from Tawa Flat northwards and thus reduce the difficulties arising from train crossings and general congestion; and (2) proceed with the Pu-kerua-Paekakariki tunnel and deviation. In a note, Mr. Field stated: “The intention to proceed with this work before the completion of the Tawa Flat tunnel deviatloii and cogent reasons for same, were Indicated in a Parliamentary paper entitled, ‘Railway Improvement and New Work.’ ” ALLEGED POLICY OF SECRECY LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, October 31. Asking for a discontinuance of the Labour Department’s secrecy in regard to unemployment, two telegrams were sent to Wellington this morning by the Unemployment Committee of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council. One telegram was to the Minister of Labour (Hon. W. A. Veitch), and read as follows: —“The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council Unemployment Committee is alarmed at the attitude of the Labour Department in adopting a policy of secrecy with reference to unemployed. We urge that the greatest publicity shall be given to the number of unemployed, the various jobs offered, the terms of acceptance or refusal of work offered, and the wages paid. We submit that the question of unemployment is so important to the Dominion as a whole that every phase of it has to be considered, and no secrecy should be tolerated.” A further telegram was sent to Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, urging him to bring the question up in the House at the first opportunity.