SKILLED TRADESMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1932, Page 12

SKILLED TRADESMEN

A plea is made by "Work Waitin<*" for help in providing work for skilled tradesmen. Ihe writer admits the need of assistance for farmers, but draws attention us to the plight of tradesmen who have bought their own homes, never dreaming of the adversity now experienced "Can we wonder that theae men, having spent five or ' six years learning fheir trades, are hanging on waiting anxiously for times to change so that they can once more get to -work with a-will. Making roads or cutting gorse is all very well for some, but to these skilled tradesmen it must indeed be a time for some hard thinking. When will their old jobs come back? I fail' to see' why the Unemployment Board caters only for one class of worker, viz., the labourer. There must be hundreds: o£ ; small jobs suitable for skilled tradesmen—alterations, painting, plumbing, papering, fencing, etc., etc., just waiting to be done, and in'.^a great many cases, no doubt, people have the money or security for-these various jobs to be done ■ straight away, but they hesitate to spend for fear of worse times. .... It should be the desire of the Unemployment Board to give these people who want these alterations and improvements to their properties.. the . necessary confidence for the future, and also to create a social service which .will benefit everyone. We are all aware that the board has been under a disadvantage owing to shortage of funds at its disposal. The" scheme I have in mind would probably mean an increase in the unemployment tax, for a short period only. It is this: That the board lie given power to lend through the State Advances Office sums' Hot exceeding £100 for the.special purpose of painting^ renovating, papering, plumbing, or any small jobs, providing that the property on which the money is loaned is a first mortgage. security and, the total disbursements of owner are not more than about £1 weekly, • including insurance and rates. I ata sure there are.hundreds like myself who, having their homes almost paid for, with good security offering,. will welcome a scheme such as this, so'that we can get any alterations done that are urgently needed,: and, what is more-urgent, provide work for which so-many are waiting."