N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1932, Page 3

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

69.311 REGISTERED. (Per Press Association). WELL IX7I TON. December 7. Registrations <»f unemployed for the week ended November 26 last, totalled 69.311. according to a return issued by lhe I’nempl<»yment Board, this figure represents a reduction of 2660 compared with the registrations a month previously. Of lhe 69,311 unemployed, 534.8 were ineligible f° r relief for various reasons. This leaves 63,963 men a charge on the Board’s funds. 'Of this number, it is estimated at. least. 32,000 men are engaged on work of a definite reproductive and developmental nature, in connection with the Dominion’s priuinry industries. BRITAIN’S INCREASE. RUGBY. December 6. Figures issued by the Minister of Labour reveal that on November .’I there were 52,800 more unemployed ortho registers of the British employlid nt exchanges than on October 24. The fall in employment during th? past niunih is stated to he due almost entirely to lhe continuance of a seasonal decline in building. p>dib!ic • works, contracting, tailoring ami other industries. Employment showed a slight improvement in the iron and sic-rl, motof vehicle and c'otton in-du-irios, and. textile bleaching nun HOKITIKA UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. (To the Editor.) Sir. —As it has not been heard O'* 'in some months, can any of you*’ Hokitika readers inform me if the Lnkiiika I' uempkivment Committee is still in existence'.’ If so, is it. no< .-J on: lime it woke up and tried ( • evolve some scheme to lj*ve the men :i lew davs extra work Io help; tide them over Christmas ami New Year 9 With work rationed as at i resenr ( nmiiv married men receiving only 2or per week lor three weeks). 1 think ail will agree that the unemployed are i'* for a lean lime during the festive season. 1, for one. am of the opinion 'hat the Committee has failed hope-les.-Jv 1o carry out the functions for which it was set up. Its record is on,, of masterly inactivity, and it -liould resign and allow others with a iillle more energy and initiative to undertake the work. There are three uiiemployi-d men ( self-electcd. as was tin- whole ('ommittee) on lhe present Committee, who are supposed Io re lie-ent the unemployed men but to my knowledge all they have ever done is tn represent themselves, and they have done that in a very able manner One of them has for the hist two years held a well paid post, as paymaster to the Westland County Council 's unemployed workers. another, when n-.it whitebaiting, -washes a bit of gravel in Fisherman's Creek, and as to thp third member, T am not certain where he puts in his time, excel t that it is not with the other men in the Borough streets. If a ba'lot were taken now, none of these men would be elected to represent the mon. The whole committee, with two except ions (The Alayor and County Clerk) is not representative of the town, country or unemployed. Therefore, | repeat, it is time they made vv:iv for a more representative and active body. In conclusion, permit me the opinion, that as the Borough Coun--il’s permanent stall* is now one man short, and as unemployed are doing (he work, it is’ up to the Council to I ut the ni'oney thus saved to unemployment funds, otherwise it is a distinct breach of faith with the Unemployment Board. I am. etc., SCHEME Hokitika. 6/12/32.