UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

FOREST SERVICE'S SHARE.

RAILWAY WORK BEGINS.

SEVENTY MEN THIS WEEK.

Forty-four unemployed from tho Auckland register have been absorbed this week by the State Forest Service, making, with 27 taken on to tho Papatoetoe-Papa-kur.a railway duplication works yosterday, a total of 71. " .

Seven men were sent at the beginning of tho week to join those already working at tho Riverhead plantation, and 14 more wero put on to road work in the Waipoua Forest, North. Auckland. On Thursday a further 23 . were sent to the plantation at Maramarua, near To Kau-. whata.

The work for which the men havo been engaged on tho plantations includes roadmaking, forming and clearing fire-breaks, and generally preparing for winter planting.

Work began in earnest yesterday morning on the railway duplication. Of 30 married men signed on on the preceding day, all but three were punctually on tho job at Pubinui, tho first station beyond Papatoetoe, which had been chosen as the starting-point. Tho three absentees, it was stated later in tho day, had not been deemed to have forfeited their jobs, but would bo given an opportunity to report to-day, as possibly they wero missing through some misunderstanding. It is hoped to take on 20 more men next Tuesday, and several havo already been selected. Not all tho second batch will be sont to Pubinui. It is deemed necessary to leaven tho gangs with some experienced men from tho Auckland yards, who will bo transferred and their places filled by relief workers.

When moro men are at work the gang will bo dividod and part sent to Wiri, where there is harder country to bo excavated. The engagement of additional workers will be gradual, owing to tho many details of organisation which havo to be settled.

No information whatever concerning unemployment relief is now obtainable from tho Auckland office of tho Department of Labour. Officials yesterday declined to say anything about tho number of men placed on Government rolief works or in other employment. In. conformity with the announcement made in Wellington on Thursday by the special committee of Cabinet, no registration figures are being issued from the Auckland office. Apparently the prohibition extends to details of the numbers placed in work from day to day and all other relevant information.