THE UNEMPLOYED

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1927, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED

4000 JOBLESS. Auckland Position. The unemployment position is mo'.* serious than people imagine, ” said Mr E. Phelan, secretary of the Timber Workers’ Union on February 7 in a statement to the press. ‘ ‘ The number registered at the Labour Department Office gives no real criterion of the true position, for hundreds of workers in all trades do not put their names on the list. I have personally communicated with the secretaries of large unions in the city, and as a result of investigation I find that over 3,000 employees are without work in the principal unions. A number of others I have not included so that the estimate must be regarded as a conservative one. It is estimated by Mr Phelan that of the men employed in cheese and butter factories 150 will be dismissed during the next six weeks. The Secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union also advises that during the months of March, April. May and June 500 employees will be put off. Among those idle are: —

Engineers 150, butchers 12, carpenters 150, drivers 400, furniture makers CO, general labourers 430, hotel workers —Men 120, women 60, total 180; local body workers 400. painters 150, plumb ers 30, seamen 100, timber workers 300. waterside workers 200, groeers 172. chemists 37, shop assistants —Men 67. women 93, total 160; electrical workers 12, linesmen 25, storemen 15, gumworkers 35, enginedrivers 12, shi]’ wrights 50. Total 080.