AUCKLAND UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19384, 20 July 1926, Page 12

AUCKLAND UNEMPLOYED

[THE EFFECT OF IMMIGRATION. NEWZEALANDERS DISPLACED. © DISCUSSION BY COMMITTEE. REQUEST TO THE GOVERNMENT. Complaint was made at the meeting of the Auckland Unemployment Committee yesterday to the effect that immigrants were displacing New Zealanders, with the result that the great majority of those now registered as unemployed in the city were local people. It was decided to approach the Government with a suggestion that the present immigration policy should be reveiwed with a view to modification. Tho weekly report showed that the men registered with the Labour Depart.ment numbered 656, the lowest number since the committee wa3 set up sis weeks ago. Of the number, 546 were classed as fit for heavy work. Employment had been found for 108 men last week, making a total of 767 who had been placed. At the women's bureau set up last week applications had been received from 40 women and girls, and vacancies had been reported for general servants and cook-generals. There had been only two applicants for nuch positions, and these had been placed. Openings had been provided for four girls in shops, factories and offices, and one waitress and three housekeepers, making a total of 10. Eight others had been sent out to jobs, but no report had been received whether they had accepted them. Few Immigrants Out o! Work. Mrs. A. J. Dreaver, who has been associated with a women's unemployment committee at the Trades Hall, was present by invitation, and stated they had registered 270 women and girls, of whom about 100 were shop assistants, and most of the others domestics. There were now about 250 on the list, employment having been found for the remainder. Nearly all were New Zealanders, and she stated that every immigrant ship arriving put some of our own girls out of work. In reply to a question Mr. W. Slaughter, officer in charge of the Auckland branch of the Labour Department, said the percentage of immigrants among the men registered was very small. Mrs. Dreaver stated that a number of the girls coming out from England as domestics, went "nto shops, showing that they were not domestics at all. Mr. Slaughter said thut under the Shop 'Assistants' Award wages were based on age and' experience, and he doubted whether the position was as stated. Country Work Disliked. . Staff-Captain Davies, of the Salvation 'Army, said that girls coming to New Zealand as domestics were required to provide two references and evidence that they were engaged in domestic work. His own experience wa3 that it was difficult to get. domestics to go into the country. Mr. T. Lamont said the committee should make representations to the Government on the question of immigration. His view was that the wrong type of people was being brought out, and he said the immigration policy would not be satisfactory until wo got the right people, ■who would go on the land and increase the productivity of the country. His , idea was that the Government should be asked to stop the flow of immigrants until the unemployed were absorbed. The Mayor, Mr. G.' Baildon, said they " should be careful about criticising the Government which was wide- awake to the 'position. It had been responsible for the setting-up of the committee and when the returns from similar organisations throughout the country were in its hands it would be in a better position to handle the problem. Stopping Immigration. Mr. H. O. Browne said it was apparent that nominated immigrants were displacing our own people, and he moved that the attention of the Government' should be drawn to tho unemployment position, the .committee being of opinion that a halt j should be called to immigration until the people already in the Dominion were absorbed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lamont and supported by Mr. Phelan. The chairman said he thought they should ask the Government tb consider the position rather than to suggest a stoppage of immigration. Mr. Phelan claimed that quite 25 to 30 per oept. of the unemployed did not come 1 near the committee and were not registered on the department's list. There were many whom the labour organisations •and others were assisting and endeavouring to plaice. The Auckland Patriotic Association was spending hundreds of pounds weekly in such assistance. Serious Consideration Asked. The motion was eventually amended to the effect that the attention of the Government 1 should be directed to the present position in relation to unemployment; and that it Be requested to consider seriously the present immigration policy with a view to modification with the object of preventing additional-' people being thrown on the labour market during the present period of acute unemployment. The motion was then carried. It was announced that all the activities in connection with the employment of ■women were now concentrated at the Women's Unemployment Bureau in Shortland Street, and that women and girls seeking employment should register there. It was necessary that Miss Emerson, the officer in charge, should have personal interviews with applicants in order to place them when vacancies were reported. THE OHRISTGHURCH LIST. NEW REGISTRATIONS TOTAL 34. [BY TELEGBAPH. —PBJESS ASSOCIATION, j - CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. Insti-uctions have been received from Wellington by the officer in charge of the Labour Department to open a women's employment bureau. This will he done to-morrow morning, when Mrs. Denniff, one of the department's women inspectors, will be placed in control. It is known that many women are out of work at present. The new branch will be keDt separate from the men's bureau, but it will be in the same part of the building. Employers with work for women are being requested to get in touch with the bureau. A total of 34 unemployed registered today at the office of the Labour Department'. Twenty-two of these were married with a large number of dependents. Those renewing their applications numbered over 30. Six men were placed in Government employment, during the day and three were found private work.