RELIEF WORKS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 138, 7 March 1930, Page 12

RELIEF WORKS

DEPARTMENT’S ACTIVITIES INCREASE IN ABSORPTIONS Figures affording a comparison between the number of relief workers engaged by the State Forest Service and the Railways and Lands Department during the current and past financial years were made available by the Minister of Labour (Hon. W. A. Veitch) in an interview yesterday. Dealing with the State Forest Service relief works, the Minister said that the weekly average for the nine months from April 1 to December 31, 1929, was 1180, as compared with a weekly average of 640 for the six months from May to October, 1928. The number of men employed on February 22 last was 700, there being none occupied on the corresponding date of last year. The Minister added that the forestry relief works closed down at the end of October in the last financial year, but this year they were carried on at full strength until Christmas, and the 700 men referred to were still employed. From October 1, 1929, to February 22 last, the weekly average number of men employed on railway relief works was 610, the highest weekly number being 764. The number employed on February 22 was 549. At the corresponding date last year there were no employees on railway relief works. . Ou the Lands Department’s relief works the weekly average for the present financial year was 221, the highest weekly number being 250. The number employed on February 22 last was 210. The number employed at the corresponding date last year was nil. Details of the number of men engaged on public works were outlined by the Minister in his reply (reported eisewhere) to a Labour deputation yesterday.