UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT. MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANGANTJI. Friday. The unemployed problem was briefly discussed by the Minister of Vublic Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in replying to a welcome hero. The Minister said ho was well awaro that tho problem of unemployment was a serious one. At the same time ho wished to make it clear that tho Government recognised its responsibilities and was endeavouring, with tho funds at its disposal and the works in hand, to place as many men as possible in employment, ft bad to bo borne in mind that there were various seasonal works closing from time to time, thus throwing more men on to the labour market. Tho Public Works Department bad been accused of attracting men from ordinary avenues of employment by paying attractive wages. That might be true to some extent, but the department was endeavouring to absorb the surplus labour, particularly on road and railway construction work. lie realised there was quite a number of men unable to take up tho class of work offered by the department, and in such cases it was almost impossible to find employment for them. Tho Minister believed that ultimately the problem would disappear in a large measure with, tlie fuller development of (he Cabinet's proposals.