UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21319, 21 October 1932, Page 13

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

SITUATION AT THAMES NO IMPROVEMENT SHOWN STATE OF FISHING INDUSTRY [by telegraph—own correspondent! THAMES, Thursday The seriousness of the unemployment problem at Thames was emphasised at (lie Unemployment Committee's meeting last evening, when more than one member of the committee declared that unemployment was steadily becoming worse. Mr. J- W. Danby referred to a report by the borough foreman that men had left borough relief works for other employment, and asked if that was the general experience with other relief works in the district Mr. S. Smith, certifying officer, stated that most of the men mentioned left in order to transfer to relief works at Orongo and other localities. There really had been no improvement in the situation. He drew attention to the acute depression in the fishing industry, and the number of local fishermen being listed on relief work. The Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor, said he failed to notice any improvement. The state of the fishing industry was disastrous. It was most unfortunate, as a number of men, borough ratepayers, were being forced out of the industry on to relief work. According to the figures there were approximately 20 fewer men on the unemployment register than a month ago, which showed that a few were obtaining employment elsewhere, but normally thewj should have been a drop of from 80 to 100 during the past two months duo to seasonal employment. The Mayor said he could place a dozen men to-morrow if they could milk cows and they would be paid a straight-out wage, not relief rates, but the trouble was that he could not find a single milker among the men listed. Mr. Danby asked whether there had been any further development in connection with the committee's proposal to the Minister that provision be made for the employment of youths in prospecting with experienced miners. Mr. 11. Crawford said he did not expect to hear anything more in the matter from the department. He thought the scheme would be shelved, in view of the fact that it opened a big question throughout the Dominion. The Mayor intimated that he would be visiting Wellington shortly, and it was agreed that he should make inquiries regarding the department's intentions. Mr. D. Mackay, county clerk, handed in a petition from several miners and other workers, forwarded to the Thames County, asking that men bo put on the county portion of the Ivaraka Cieek Road'for improvement, to enable motorlorries to make use of the road for the conveyance of quartz, mining timber and firewood. Mr. Mackay said that from the county point of view thore would be no difficulty if only labour were required, but a good deal of material was necessary. The matter was deferred until next meeting, when Mr. Mackay will submit a report on the work proposed. MEN ON DRAINAGE WORK "GO SLOW" POLICY REPORTED DEVELOPMENT AT OTAHUHU The adoption of a "go-slow" policy by relief workers on the Tamaki estate drainage scheme was reported to the Otahuhu Borough Council last evening. At the previous meeting the council decided not to grant the workers on the drainage job any extra wages and in the foreman's report last evening it was stated that work had slackened considerably in the past fortnight. "The workers seem to have adopted a go-slow policy," stated the report. A report was submitted by the. Finance Committee recommending that any balance over the cost of the actual work from the loan of £2500 should be paid to the men engaged in the form of a bonus. The ganger in charge had reported that with the exception of two men there had been a distinct slackening of efforts. There had been 46 men employed during the fortnight. Mr. F. W. Grey suggested that the most unsatisfactory men be transferred to other jobs and not participate in any bonus. The opinion that every able-bodied man should be given a share of the drainage work in rotation was expressed by Mr. J. Hunter. "It is a tragedy that after all the expense this borough had incurred during the past four years for unemployment relief the men should refuse to cooperate in the first honest piece of work organised," said Mr. Hunter. The foreman said he had costed the recent work and found that since the "goslow" policy was adopted the excavation cost per cubic yard had increased from 6s 8d to 8s sd. Tt was decided that the Works Committee and other members should discuss the position with the men in the hope of obtaining better results. '