WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20564, 15 May 1930, Page 10

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED.

DECISION OF CABINET. [OVER TWO THOUSAND MEN. REGISTRATIONS TOTAL 2954. •'MATERIAL REDUCTION" PROMISE [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ROTORUA. Wednesday. The absorption of an additional fifteen hundred men on public works and afforestation in an endeavour to relieve unemployment was announced by tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, this evening. Tho Prime Minister said tho subject ol unemployment had received further consideration at to-day's meeting of the Cabinet at Rotorua and ho added that the total number of men registered at the bureaux as fit for heavy work, according to tho latest returns, totalled 5502, less a total of 548 who had either refused or left Government work of their own accord since January last. The net total was therefore 2954. The Public Works Department had already arranged for the employment of 606 men and with a view to affording further measures of relief the Government had decided to make provision for an additional 1500 men in various districts of the Dominion, such men to bo employed on public works and afforestation. There were also several other schemes under consideration. It would bo seen therefore that the total of those who were nt present unfortunately out of work would bo materially reduced at an early daip. " Tho difficult question of unemployment will continue to receive the closest attention of tho Government with tho object of providing as much work as possible before tho winter comes on," continued tho Prime Minister. " I might also say that ono of tho private afforestation companies in tho Dominion has recently acquired a substantial area of land in tho Rotoi'ua district, and it is its intention to employ a largo number of men in planting operations as soon as possible " Interviewed earlier in the day on tho question of tho non-publication of tho unemployment figures, tho Minister of Labour, Hon. W. A. Veitch, indicated that he was disposed to agree to the lifting of the ban, although ho had not finally decided tho point. Ho believed the agitation for the figures was doing more harm than could be caused by their publication. " I am inclined then to release the figures for what they are .worth," added the Minister.