UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18349, 13 September 1921, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT

LABOURERS MOSTLY AFFECTED. The Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) states that he was waited on yesterday morning by 24 men who were looking for employment. These were mostly unskilled workers, and all of them were married. Some of them had several dependents. Five other unskilled workers also waited on the Mayor at his business premises. The Mayor took the names and'addresses of all the unemployed. „ , Mr L. F. Evans, secretary of the Central Labour Office, said that from the information and applications coming to his office he was of opinion that the unemployment situation was slightly easier. There was a prospect that the building trade would shortly become busier. Employment would then be found not. only for workers in the building trade, bat also for workers in File subsidiary trades. At the present time there were 30 or 40 carpenters out of work, but on the other hand there was always a certain number <£ carpenters out of employment at this time of the year. Mr Evans stated that the prospects in some of the trades which specialised on. certain lines were not too bright, as there was not sufficient activity in other branches of industry to absorb these particular lines. Out-of-work labourers were, still very plentiful, and unless some steps were taken to find employment for this class of worker the position was likely to become even more acute. The bulk of the _ immigrants who waited on Mr Evans seeking employment were unfortunately' unskilled workers. Bricklayers were fully employed on works in and about Dunedin. Painters were in fair request, but their employment fluctuated, and they were mostly engaged on small jobs. The agricultural implement workers’ trade was very slack, and some of the firms were' working only half time. Mr Evans went on to say that people who intended to undertake building operations should not, in their own interests, delay. Prices were steadily hardening, and when they became' stabilised, in from two to three years’ time, it would; be found that they were on a higher all-round scale than' those ruling in the dominion to-day. Mr L. I>. Browett, officer ,in charge of the local office of the Government Labour stated that , he had 25 unemployed on his books, chiefly _ labourers. Some of these would be sent this week to the Forestry Department’s works at Tapamii. There were now no opening# at the Beaumont, Roxburgh, Tawanui, Ardprowan, or Ida Valley works, i So far .as the Labour Department was concerned the position was easier, for work having fallen off considerably since about May, when there were over 100 on the books. The reason for this off may be, however, that the men are disinclined to go into the country. A meeting of the chairmen of the respective committees of the Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon to consider what steps the board could take to commence works which would absorb some of the unemployed. No definite conclusions were arrived at, and it was left l ' with the chairman of the board (Mr T. Scollay) to meet the Mayor and further discuss the situation with him.