UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 19588, 21 June 1927, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION

SKILLED TRADES HIT HARD THE “ SILVER LIMING •• [Special to the ‘ Stab ’’ CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. _ Although, just at present the situation in regard to unemployment in the cjty ,is particularly acute, and in the case of some of the skilled trades is the worst union secretaries have known, there is a silver lining to the clouds’ A couple of big Jobs are looming ahead. After many delays a start has now been made with the work of constructing the foundations for the new buildings that are to be erected at Addington Railway Workshops. This work, in itself, is not a particularly big one, but as soon as tho contractor gets out of the way another contractor will make a start with the erection of _ the buildings, a job that will provide employ nxent for a large number of skilled tradesmen. It is hoped that it xyill be commenced within a couple of months. Another job that has < just been started is that of reticulating the outei areas of the city with the high pressure water supply. Eighteen men made a beginning on this work to-day, but if a good supply of pipes is kept up the number should be increased to a hundred in another month.

Added to these prospects for tho future is the more hopeful tone among business firms. It is believed that tho worst of tho depression is now over, and that trade will now gradually ira prove! The skilled trades, particularly, I have been feeling the effects of unemployment during the past few months, very few unions being able to report that trade is good. In the building trade unions there is a large number of men out of work. Mr E. C. Sutcliffe, secretary of tho Amalgamated Caipenters’ Union, informed a reporter that between fifty and sixty members of his union were regularly signing the unemployment register, 1 and that ho had never known the position to he so bad previously. The trade was had i throughout the dominion, and several Christchurch men who had been working in Wellington had come back again and were now out of work. They stated i that men from all parts of New Zealand had flocked to Wellington while the trade was brisk there. Mr Sutcliffe also stated that he had been told by the representative of a contractor for the erection of. the new buildings for Addington Workshops that, as soon as the work was commenced, he would knock a big hole in tho number of carpenters out of work. FURTHER LOAN NECESSARY TPbb United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, June 20. The mayor (Mr G. A. Troup) indicated to-day that the raising of a further loan in connection with work for the unemployed wall probably be necessary. The whole work intended to be done is likely to cost £40,000, instead of £IO,OOO, for which a loan has been submitted. When questioned on the subject to-day the mayor said if the ! cost was £40,000 the Government sub- : sidy would amount to about £14,000, ; about one-third instead of half. He did think the Government could have been a lattle more generous in the matter of the subsidy, but, on the other hand, he could not say that the Government had treated the city unfairly, None of the works could have been don© out of the revenue. PALMERSTON NORTH'S LOAN PALMERSTON N., Juno 20. _ The Borouugh Council decided this evening to raise a £3,000 loan, to be expended on footways, in order to meet unemployment. POSITION IN ST. HILDA DEPUTATION TO LOCAL COUNCIL. i The matter of finding work for tiie unemployed of St. Kilda was brought before the St Kilda Borough Council at its meeting last evening, when a) deputation from the Otago Labor Council wanted upon the council. Mr A. C. M'Laren, president, said that the deputation’s purpose was to urge the council to take immediate steps for the relief of the unemployed in the borough. Ho would not suggest what w'ork should be found for the unemployed, but there was no doubt there was work. Tho council would receive the Government subsidy oiy the money to be spent. He was sure if the council called the work relief work it would not do so for the purpose of reducing wages. To pay a wage below the Arbitration Court award would not he administering justice, and w-oulcl bo taking advantage of the men. Mr W. Clark supported tho previous speaker, and said they did not want the state of affairs here that existed in other parts of the world, where the monev w r ns hist handed out and tho men gave no return.

In answer to a question, Hr M'Laren said there were approximately twentyfive men unemploved in the hnrnneh. The Mayor (Mr T?, TT. HalM said that, the sympathies of the with the unemployed. The council employed a certain number of men at present. It was very difficult to find employment. Tt was to ho remembered that the borough was unique in that it did not take in any hills or cullies. Probably certain works would bo nut into operation which would employ some of the men. A loan for the nnemnloyed was sublet to a subsidy from the Government of & for £, at the nresent rate of wanes fixed hy the Government of Ps a dav for sinado men and If?s lor married men.

Tim deputation then retired. Enter in the evenimr the Mayor said it was tlio council's dntv fe get into toncli witli tlio Returned Soldiers’ Association, and a number of men would bo ornnWod in ImrMmr and channelling. All Dm old mas lamps in the bnroupb liad to lie dismantled. Tim Government conditions witli re card to tlio eniidovnmnt of men out of work meant flint no, man outside tlm citv lionndary nnnld bp emrarmd on citv relief work. TTo realised fW assistance slmnld lie niven to tlio unemployed of tlio boron ndi. Tim matter was then fully discussed in committee and finallv it was deoulo/5 fo pinnies f onr men to remove tlm rras lamns, and fo write to tlm "Returned RoVlinrs’ Aseopl.at.inii wi+b regard to somritv- men for "'or l -- subsidised out of flip Pormv Tl.av funds.