A GOOD SION

Evening Star, Issue 21580, 28 November 1933, Page 9

A GOOD SION

REDUCTION IN RELIEF WORKERS A slight reduction in the number of those engaged in relief work in Dunedin has, taken place during the last few months, and, while the bulk of it has been the result of more men finding employment in seasonal occupations, a little of it is due to the gradual improvement in trading conditions generally. To-day there are over three hundred fewer men on relief work than .there were three months ago. While it would be idle to suggest that the end of the economic depression is close at hand, the reduction in the number of unemployed is in itself an encouraging sign, and, coming on top of the brighter outlook engendered by the substantial increase in wool prices at the Auckland sale yesterday, should assist generally in the return of confidence. The figures recorded by the local Labour Bureau show that early in August the number of men engaged on relief work in Dunedin was 2,763 in September 2,715, and in October 2.597. Again this month there has been a gradual decline, the figures for the weeks ending November 11, November 18, and November 25 respectively being 2,522, 2,468, and 2,450. According to a P.A. message from Christchurch the Unemployment Committee there has, for the first tune for many months, evidence that the number of men in need of relief wages or rations is decreasing. The Central Belief Commits reported that the number of families to which rations had been distributed during the last fortnight had been reduced by 400. It was also, reported that increasing numbers of men wore informing tho paymasters on relief works that they were leaving to take other work.