"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 8

"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Unemployment questions have been taking up quite a lot pi' your space of late. May 1 give you my experience? I left Auckland in search of employment. I travelled to Hamilton, where there was nothing doing, business being slow, so came further on to Palmerston North, where I obtained work on one out of three or four jobs in progress. I could not' get work elsewhere in Palmerston, so decided to move. I then went to New Plymout, visiting Wanganui, Hawera, Eltham, Stratford en route. Well, Sir, I inquired at each of these places for work, not a mere question here and there, but a thorough search, but still nothing was doing. I then thought the other side might be a little better, so I went to Napier. No, Sir, they do not want men in Napier for anything, not even on P.W.D. works. I next went to Dannevirke—a nice little place—but there is no work about there. They likewise do not want men.' My last resort was Wellington, and,! duly arrived on Monday night. I have been looking for a job ever since. Building? Yes, there is building, but for every carpenter working, there is one unemployed. Although I am a carpenter, I have tried other positions—shovel hand, ordinary labourer—but always the same answer, full up! Now, Sir, I have had a very good spin compared with some I have met in Wellington.. I heard tales of.relief works, in Nelson, 5s per day, or some such figure, and they rather interested me. Other fellows I have met out of work for only a month, some of •tthem three months, consider they are lucky to have been only , that long unemployed. Sir, I have trav-1 died through the King Country and. around Eotorua and Mamaku. There are millions of feet of timber stacked in the : yards which cannot be sold;,the employees, work four hours a 'day in the case of married men, the mills are halfrstaffed, men being sacked in batches. Yet, when I come to Wellington (I have visited about j twelve big jobs here, all imported timber), I I scarcely notice a stick of rimu anywhere. I make the last statement in order to bring to light one reason why young people take to the roads. Not. only young people who are supposed to be always working, but elderly ones, men with families left, •in some cases, almost destitute, while the bread winner tramps the roads, looking for a job, always expectant, yet learning not to be disappointed on hearing: "We don't want any men, got pleaty!" Now, Sir, I have covered a lot of ground covered already by previous writers, and I will finally ask: "What am I gomg.to do?" 1 have worn the soles off my only pair of shoes looking for a job. They say that men must be taught to be thrifty. I have used my savings, or most of the them, in fares and board. I pity those who walk and sleep out. Will I have to do that to become \fully initiated in the unemployment system? Well, Sir, I thank you for your space and hope I may receive a reply through, you; either giving, me notice of employment, as soon as possible, or, failing that, how to get it. — I am, etc., fi f, tV ANXIOUS. 6th July.