UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17697, 25 June 1921, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

MINISTER’S FURTHER REPLY. CAMPS BEING ERECTED. PROVISION FOR SEVENTY MEN PER WEEK. RETURNED SOLDIERS SEEKING WORK. Tho number of married men with families out of employment continues to increase. It is also reported that about 114 returned soldiers are also looking for work. On Thursday last the Minister of Labor (tho Hon. G. J. Anderson) wired the mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas), in answer to his telegram as to what assistance tho Government could offer, that he was making inquiries, and would advise later. Tho mayor this morning received this further telegram from tho Minister:— Further to my wire of yesterday, the returns from the Labor Department at Dunedin do not show a marked increase in tho number of unemployed. Tho Public Works Department, which takes men registered in tho Labor Department office, informs mo that camps are being erected and surveys completed as quickly as possible. Seventy per week will ho provided, for during tho next throe weeks. This_ is intended to absorb all men willing to take work. THE MAYOR’S ANSWER. UNSUITABLE FOR MARRIED MEN. SUGGESTS FORESHORE RAILWAY DEVIATION WORK. Tho mayor this afternoon sent tho following reply to tho Minister: — Thanks for wire. Labor Department’s returns do not apparently cover all unemployed, as over 100 returned soldiers reported out of work. Married men with largo families arc daily requesting my assistance. I appreciate your present proposals, but consider thorn only suitable for single men. I suggest the Government undertake tho immediate commencement of railway deviation 1 on the foreshore, with _ preference of ' employment to men with family responsibilities. At present several local authorities arc endeavoring _to keep men going. They arc awaiting Government assistance.