CANADIAN MALINGERERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1936, Page 11

CANADIAN MALINGERERS

DOLE PREFERRED TO WORK VANCOUVER, November 4. With a view to ousting from the relief lists malingerers who refuse to accept employment, the Federal Employment Commission is taking a nation-wide census of persons receiving the dole. There are approximately 600,000 unemployed, which is double the normal rate. Economic conditions are rapidly improving. The average employment for the first nine months of 1936 was higher than the average prosperous years. The employment index in the ing industry has risen 31 per cent. All other occupational groups are ahead of normal, with the exception of building and construction, whicn are 30 per cent, below normal—a singnlarlyj unhappy situation which, if rectified, would employ every available worker in Canada. -• The physical volume of business is 7 per cent, above normal. Mineral production is 64 per Cent, above the average prosperous year. The balance of trade has increased 50 per cent, this year. In spite of these factors of improvement, there are a large number, of men who, for various reasons, prefer to continue on the dole, rather than accept employment at rates below the minimum wage.