UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES

Evening Star, Issue 19329, 16 August 1926, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES

THREE HUNDRED MEN PLACED Though relief in the way of employment is being given to many men, the number out of work continues to rise, and the register at tho Labor Department’s Unemploymcn,t Bureau contained 313 names at 11 a.in. to-day. It was reported at this morning’s meeting of the executive of tho Citizens’ Relief Committee that to date 300 men had been placed—l 49 on corporation works and 151 in private employment. There are about 120 engaged on corporation works at the present time. There were cloven fresh applications for work at tho Labour Department’s Bureau this morning, including four skilled men,’but no men were placed. Three men were given private employment by the Town Hall Bureau, but some fifty men went away disappointed. Sometimes the obtaining of work is largely a matter of luck. One new applicant arrived at the bureau this morning coincidentally with a man who wanted to engage a laborer, and the job was his. Tho situation will probably be eased by tho work that is anticipated by the Town Hall authorities, but tho officer in charge (Mr R. Moffat) states that the total number of men out of work will even then be a very largo one. This morning’s meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Relief Executive Committee was presided over by Cr J. Wilson, and there were also present the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, Messrs G. Lightfoot (Labor Department), F. M. Shortt, and tho secretary (Mr R. Moffat). It was reported by tho secretary that there were 302 names on the register at tho Labor Department’s Bureau on Saturday. The Town Hall Bureau had placed twenty-one men in corporation works on Saturday morning, which he presumed would he deducted from the total. There seemed to bo an equal number of married and single men, and they were placing tho more urgent cases among single men as well as the married men. There were many deserving cases among ablebodied men. . “Yes, very deserving, said Mr King, “ and able-bodied, too.” Mr King reported that the man with thirteen of a family, whose case was recently referred to, had been found work.

Cr Wilson said that he would recommend at a committee meeting to-night that another gaim of from ten to twenty men be placed on corporation works. “ J. think we might endeavor to get the Government to take some responsibility in regard to recently-arrived immigrants who are out of work,” said Mr King. Ho said that it was about time tlie Government was brought to see that a number of tho men who were supposed to have guarantees of work when they were brought out did not have positions to come to. Mr Moffat said that quite a number of tho rew arrivals who were out of work were not assisted immigrants, but had paid full passage money and come out to take their chance. Cr Wilson said that reduced rates of pay wore not being paid to men on corporation works, but if the position became cuch that they were forced to put on many of the men remaining out of work they might have to be put on at a reduced wage.