UNEMPLOYED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 April 1929, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED

FLOCKING TO CHRISTCHURCH POSITION BECOMES ACUTE (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail") CHRISTCHURCH, 10th April. "Attracted by optimistic reports that have been circulated in regard to the demand for labour in Christchurch, men have been flocking here from all parts of New Zealand. These men more than offset the increased demand for labour there has been lately for building and road work, and the position is now very bad. There must be more than 200 men looking for work in Christchurch now." This statement was made by Mr H. Worrall, secretary of the General Labourers' Union, in conversation with a reporter to-day. "Those men in responsible positions who have been making optimistic statements about, the unemployment position don't realise the effect these statements have on the labour market," said Mr Worrall. "The position is, in fact, anything but hopeful. Wool stares are starting to pay their men off, the City Council has put off many of the men that were working on Colombo street, and men are drifting back to the city now that harvesting is about finished. Besides this, the killing season will soon be over and the men now working in freezing works will shortly be looking for jobs. Most of the men that have been coming to Christchurch from elsewhere are single men, able-bodied young fellows who are well able to hold their own. Miners have been coming, country workers have been coming, and it's all going to make things very hard for the men, especially the married men, who belong to Christchurch."