SCHEME FOR SEASONAL UNEMPLOYED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1938, Page 7

SCHEME FOR SEASONAL UNEMPLOYED.

ASSET-CREATING- IMPROVEMENTS

(By Telegraph —Press Association}CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The Government has now brought • into operation a plan which every year ; will ensure the absorption of the seasonal unemployed thrown on to the i labour market through the temporary : cessation of industries. This was emphasised by the Minister of Alines 1 (Hon. P. C. Webb), who is co-operating • with the Alinister of Employment (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) in an employment drive. 1 Air. Webb indicated that in future in i such cases as the freezing industry, where men come out on the labour market every year for a period, continuity of employment would be onsur- . ed by the new scheme. “Our efforts have led to the pro- ■ vision of work for all men in the Dominion who are fit to workj” the Minister said. “We have found a position for every employable man in both islands, as we said we would. The scheme has entailed the sending of many single men out into the country on such work as afforestation, river clearance, river erosion, drainage, provision of access to backblock farms, improvement of highways and irrigation extension. “We have also concentrated on work designed to improve the recreational facilities of the country. Men have been put on school grounds, swimming baths, tennis, croquet and football areas, bowling greens and golf

grounds. The shorter working week has greatly increased the demand on our existing recreational facilities and social amenities, and we have been able to meet the demand through this scheme. “The Government believes that to spend money in this way is all to the good. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) is keen to see better school grounds, for instance, and the Employment Department is helping his Department considerably in this respect. “Sand-dune fixation, improvement of waterfronts at holiday resorts and work of that nature also goes on to our list. Every job we undertake is investigated first bj r the engineers and local authorities most closely interested and there is no question that all this' work is asset-creating./ We are now preparing a plan which is already in operation this season to ensure that each we can absorb seasonal workers who come out of employment regularly. These jobs we will give to thcwseasonal unemployed will be of suffici«; duration to keep them *n work their particular industries require them again. We want to bring about a balanced scheme for the provision work for these men all tne year roumSt’