N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1930, Page 3

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

REGISTKRED AT,BUREAUX

I»y 1 clcgl Upti--l*ftr ITout, .ibaOClaL.oll

WELLINGTON, June 4

The new Minister of Labour (HonS. G. Smith) has signalised his assumption of office by deciding to make available for publication the unemployment- registration figures for the Dominion.' In a statement to-day the Minister announced that for the week which ended on May 26 last, the latest available return, the applications for work pending revealed by the reports from the labour bureaux and post offices totalled 5084. Of these 2614 were shown as being with dependants, and 2470 without dependants.

Tlie totals for the four main centres nere: —Auckland City 1494, Wellington C’itv 650; Christchurch City. 858; Dunedin City 367.

'Hie Minister added thn f during the week under review a total of 433 men was placed , through the Labour Bureaux, practically all being absorbed on Government works. “The Government realises tlie seriousness of the position and every effort fs ''ping made to meet the situation, said Mr Smith.

“It is to be hoped that there will be complete co-operation with the Government by the unvote employees and citizens in order to minimise tlm 'nifties of unemployment in New Zealand.”

WELLLINGTON COUNCIL’S DIFFICULTY.

WELLINGTON, June 4

A deputation representing Wellington City Council waited on tlie Prime Minister to-day to urge., that the conditions on which tb' 1 Oovoj-omont pn.v,s sob,shiv for local body reh'cif w r "* v • ' '>obl be relaxed. ?' was -a out that tlie Government reooirel that at least sixty per '-cut. of the amount shoo'd be, expended on Inborn, but all the worlcs in tb'„- city suitable for the. unemployed have been exhausted. Tt was not possible to continue on the sixty per cent, basis. Foot-paths were urgently required, but these would not be allowed by the Public Works Department to count for the subsidy because of the proportion of the cost ovnlved, being in materials. The Prime Minister said he appre-

eiaiX'U the diifiVulty the Council found itself The Council must find I it extremely hard to find work around the city on which it could put relief workers. Wellington had done m .re than any other city in New Zealand n the matter of unemployment relief, and the City Council could reaspna ily ask lor special consideration in view of the special circumstances. Where the local authorities lure not done all ' hat they might have done to meet the unemployment situation, the respon s’ ! ’ :, ity must rest with them. Mr Forbes said lie would be very pleased to consider the deputation’s request for a modification of the conditions of the subsidy in view <>l Mie particular circumstances. Councillor G. Mitchell pointed out tb-’t in the past the Council had con"Md 70 per cent, of the cost of ••■•lief works as compared with the '■'nvprnment’s 00 per cent, contribution.