WORK PROVIDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22916, 20 December 1937, Page 13

WORK PROVIDED

PLACEMENT SERVICE MANY MEN ABSORBED LARGE SUM IN WAGES After an analysis of figures relating to placements, it is estimated by the Auckland Placement Service that men allotted employment in the present year have drawn £750,000 in ■wages. Several officers have been engaged for some time in making this estimate, which is considered to be fairly reliable, for the service has a good deal of information at its disposal relating to each man placed in work, wages and length of service performed. On December 31 last, approximately 8000 men were on the active register. During tho year 11,407 new enrolments have been made. ith re-enrol-ments included, the service has dealt with between 19,000 and 20,000 men. From that number 3916 were found local body or Government work, while 7833 positions have been filled in private employment, representing 5100 individuals. At present the service has 4793 men enrolled. Of this number 840 arc classed as fit and willing to go to employment, away from their liohtcs, 1082 are classed as fit but unwilling to go to distant work, 2178 are classed as fit for light labour only and 693 are deemed to be unsuitable for private employment for various causes. Approximately 50 per cent of the men who for the past few months have been enrolling with the service because they are out of work are not drawing sustenance. It is found by experience that many men make no attempt to draw sustenance until absolutely compelled by circumstances. In the past week the service effected 216 placements in private employment, of which 107 are classed as casual, 63 as temporary and 46 as permanent. In addition 27 men were absorbed by Government departments and 64 were given work with local bodies under the Number 13 sustenance scheme. Much of the casual employment now offering is for gardening and work in wool stores. The service has many applications for men for dairying farms which it is unable to satisfy, but there is very little call for harvesters.