THINGS IMPROVING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 7

THINGS IMPROVING.

POSITION OF THE UNEMPLOYED NO WORKERS FOR SOME POSITIONS .THE EEASON L WHY f The barometer of unemployment, judged by a report from the wharf that only one man could be gofc for coaling when many were wanted, shows a slight rise. The Labour Department, too, wanted seven to fill up a party, but could only finr one, seems to be another indication, of better things. Married men, of course, were given the preference. There is still an ample number of single applicants. There are now 120 men at work on the Rangitatau bushfelling con-, tracts. Matters are in fair train for the beginning of work on the Victoria College grounds, and practically it is assured that a commencement will b» made next Tuesday. A representative of the Wellington Plasterers' Union desires to have thq position of his union in regard to un- : employed members made clear. Thei ! statement that there were only fifteen unemployed a day or two ago is con- . troverted. The unemployment book of i the union shows thirty unemployed mem. bers at present, and our informant asserts that there are between fiity and 1 sixty members of the union out of work. , Twelve or fourteen were discharged tha day before yesterday from the almostcompleted Union Bank building. ,' THE LABOURERS' UNION A\D PREFERENCE. So as to afford unemployed labourers every opportunity of availing themselves ot the relief work provided by the Unemployed Relief Committee, it is proposed by the responsible officials .01 the General 1-abourers' Union to suspend the 5s entrance fee into the union for such men as are willing to accept the work offered. The proposal will come ud' for consideration at tonight's meeting of the union, and will ■ probably be carried. The executive of the union, while insisting on the principle of preference to unionists on all navvying work, relief or otherwise, is desirous of facilitating the endeavour* ' of the relief committee. A SUGGESTION FROM THE SHOPKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Yesterday , afternoon, at the sugges. , tion of the executive of the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association, member* present had placed before them for conr sideration a proposal, originating with the president (Mr. H. H. Seatou), in regard to providing some assistance to the unemployed relief fund. Mr. Seatoa considered that they should do all iv their power to alleviate the undoubted distress at present existent among the working classesj. His idea was, if the Town Hall could be obtained free of charge, that there was enough talent procurable among members of the association to arrange and successfully carry , out a popular concert at popular prices. : In his opinion, if the project were administered judiciously, a return of £10Q at least might reasonably be anticipated. At the present juncture such help would be doubly welcome The amount from outside towards the general fund was coming in so slowly that he thought tha shopkeepers, who were members of the association, should move right away. If the Town Hall were obtained free of rent, the association would not mind I paying the cost of advertising and the nrintina' of tickets. Several members pointed out that already there were one or two such concerts mooted, and they thought more real help could be given if the association took an active part in one of. the previously announced projects. After a general discussion it wa» decided that the views of the civic authorities as to the question of the rentfree hall be. first obtained, the matter; meanwhile to remain in abeyance. Southern Cross Lodge of Oddfellows at its meeting last evening voted £2 to the Citizens' Relief Fund.