WORK IN DUNEDIN

Evening Star, Issue 17636, 15 April 1921, Page 6

WORK IN DUNEDIN

FIRMS NOT PUTTING OFF HANDS GENERALLY. LABOR OFFICE PLACES NEARLY ALL. A few days ago it became a duty to record the fact that some warehouses had reduced their staffs by putting off hands who had been temporarily employed, and reference was made to the matter of common knowledge that the factories were only working part time. Since then the position has not grown any worse in Dunedin as regards the wholesale houses, and it is satisfactory to learn upon specific inquiry that the'street rumor of hands being put off here and here are mostly exaggeration or untruths. One of these tales, traced hack to facts, has no more foundation than that a dressmaking branch of a leadimr firm has temporarily suspended operations for internal reasons, the hands being absorbed by other departments, and none going off the pay list. Tile situation in Dunedin is not at all serious. Mr Browett, of tho Labor Office, keeps iris finger on that most sensitive department, and he declares that with the exception of about a dozen laborers, this number including a party of five who recently came from England and saw no prospects in the North Island, his office has been able to place all the persons applying for work. THINGS NOT SO GOOD IN CANTERBURY. [Special to titk ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH. April 14. To-night’s • Star ’ says ; The dismissal of men in various commercial and other firms in the city continues. Some firms are making more cuts than others, but the total is growing steadily. In ono citv office six men have been paid otf lately. Another big institution is reducing hands as mercifully as possible, and giving them a month’s holiday in which to look round for other employment. In the case of big stock agencies it is expected that there will be_ a decided shortening in country agencies. The manager of one large concern stated that in the country the horse was beginning to taka the place of tho car in many instances, and minor economies would take place.