BETTER PROSPECTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 7

BETTER PROSPECTS

For Men Out of Work POSITION MUCH IMPROVED A statement that the unemployment position in Hastings and district has improved by at least 00 per cent, in comparison with tho peak year of 1932 was made to a “Tribune" reporter today by Mr. A. W. Simpson, District Employment Officer, who said that the position would bo even better if it were not for the fact that a fairly large number of men from outside districts are coming here and holding themselves in readiness for possible employment on the East Coast Railway works. The placement scheme recently inaugurated in Labour Department districts, by which is meant the four centres and tho larger provincial towns, said Mr Simpson, is meeting with a good deal of success. If tho results continue to be good, ho added, the scheme would probably be extended to other districts

The main object of the scheme is to place unemployed men in permanent work, and to that end a special officer has been appointed in each Labour Department district to interview men and discover their particular abilities and requirements. Many of tho men making application were skilled men only temporarily out of work. The investigating officer made application to many employers for work for the applicants, and so far the results had been quite gratifying. In previous years, said Mr. Simpson, about 50 men had been sent from Hastings every year to the forestry camp at Opepe, but this vear it had been impossible to send more than about 20, or even fewer. Men were being asked to be sent to camps, and it was to he regretted that there were not more vacancies At present, however, there were none. Had it not been lor the virtual aboiltion of the 48. Scheme, under which unemployed men were engaged on scrub-cutting work, the employment situation would bo even better than it is. All the same it was better than it was last year, and at least 60 per cent, better Hum in the peak year Air. Simpson concluded by saying that there appeared to be an increase in the prospects for permanent employ, ment, especially for carpenters.