NUMBER GROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1931, Page 11

NUMBER GROWING

A RATIONING PROBLEM

Though there are no fresh figures available^ from the Labour Department of the number of unemployed registered in Wellington^ it is certain that the number is growing, as there have been many fresh, applications this week at Buckle street, and the position in re- ' gard to those out of work last week has not changed to any appreciable extent.' It is almost impossible to give an exact and reliable figure at any date, as even while the figmes are being taken, men may be either found employment or come in to register. The net effect is, however, that the numbers of unemployed are steadily increasing, and there are undeniable cases of hardship. ■■■■':■ It is not perhaps generally known that under the No. 2 scheme of the Unemployment Board, provided that the man is registered with the Labour Department, the employer has the right of nomination of the man he desires for the job offering. Many people have been hesitant of employing men they did not know for special purposes for which they might not-'be suitable, but this is an unjustified doubt, when the man may be chosen by the employer for the job, provided that the work is one that can be Subsidised under the, scheme. Many of the men now being employed under the No. 2 scheme are nominated, and there is every possibility of finding further work for them by the s^me employers, if the funds are supplemented.. The new grant made available on Saturday has-been considerably drawn upon, and it cannot last much longer; but if the satisfaction of the private employers is any indication., of the value of the work being done, a fur- ■'■ iher grant would be thoroughly justified. There is no indication'that ration^ ing is being-resorted to by private employers to any great extent as yet, lint in the cases" in which it has been tried, some unexpected problems have come up in the case of weekly paid men. In the case of casuals and men paid an hourly wage, no difficulties present themselves. Among such men are carpenters, bricklayers, labourers, plasterers, etc.™ The position is slightly different in the case of butchers, grocers, drivers, and storemen, who are paid a weekly wage under the award. They can be rationed week about, but the week cannot be split, and in the case of small employers this makes it awkward. Where there is a large staff of assistants they can work week about, but where there are, say, on!}' •three, it is hard for the employer to fit 'in the award with the needs of his business, and at the same time equalise the distribution of work to his employees. Casuals, though provided for under the award in the case of weekly paid employments, are usually paid at a higher rate than the weekly wage. It is a breach of most of the weekly awards to employ or work for less than a week, save in the case of sickness, etc., but in small businesses where the volume of business is not always steady, ■inability to employ a man less than a. ■week makes the position difficult, especially for businesses where most of the work falls on the staff in. the second part of the week.