UN EMPLOYMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 17647, 28 April 1921, Page 7

UN EMPLOYMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

REACHING AN ACUTE STAGE. [Special to the ‘Stah.’] CHRISTCHURCH. April 27. Unemployment is steadily increasing, and, according to labor agents, is likely to quickly develop to a stage where relic: works to absorb tho proportion of labor offering will be an absolute necessity if extreme hardship and suffering are to be avoided. Various industries in the city are putting off men, but so far tho trouble is greatest in. the ranks of unskilled laborers. Large numbers of men were congregated about and in the office of a labor agent when a ‘ Sun ’ representative mado a call. This agent said unemployment as far as farm and station labor was concerned is not very groat. So far tho freezing industry is busy, and this is keeping further largo numbers of men off the market. The indications are that many builders’ and contractors’ laborers will soon be released once the present contracts have expired. “ Is part of tho unemployment due to the fact that men are leaving their positions because they will not accept lower ■wages?” the Press man asked. “X T o,” was tho reply, “the men are accepting the lower wages: ” The officer in charge of the Govermnont Labor "Department said that unemployment was steadily increasing, and application for situations had been much more numerous this week than usual. It had been possible to send away a number of men to tho West Coast to act as truckers for mines, but ho had no authority to send any men to public works.