RUSH FOR WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 8

RUSH FOR WORK.

UNLOADING TRUCKS OF COAL. SCENES AT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS Proof of the anxiety of many unemployed men to find -work lias been afforded at the Otahuhu railway work* shops during the unloading of the shipment of Australian coal. Men were' offered employment in unloading thewaggons at 9d a ton, less the customaryl .10 pe? cent., and 30 men were engsgedj from Otahuhu and district. When news! of the work offering had spread men flocked in from Auckland and all over! the district, and competition for jobs has 1 become so keen that men are reporting at the yards before 6 a.m. daily. In thei last few days there have been in the vicinity of 70 men awaiting the shunting of the trucks and some confusion has resulted. The officials have endeavoured to share: the work, but the astuteness of certain, of the men has nullified their efforts. Others have taken considerable personal risks in boarding moving trucks to secure possession of the way-tickets and the load. One result has been that many; men have had to wait for hours before the officials could find them place in the next "rake" of trucks..

During the first few days many of the able-bodied men handled over 35 tons of coal in one day entailing an arduous day's work, but earning a good wage. In all 7000 tons is being received now and a further 400 tons is due this next week.