PUBLIC WORKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 14

PUBLIC WORKS.

RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT. ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT. EMPLOYMENT FOR DUNEDIN MEN. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. May 3. An outline of the efforts the Government is making to relievo unemployment was given by the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A, Ransom) tonight. ' . The Minister said ho had instructed his engineers to expedite any road or other public work that could be put in hand to relieve the present position, which, so far as Wellington was concerned. had not been greatly accentuated until quite recently. As an indication of the Government's activities the Minister said the Public Works Department was placing 200 men in Auckland, while the Forestry Department was taking oa 50 men immediately .and a further 200 men shortly in Wanganui. Arrangements were being made to absorb 25 men immediately on the Wanganui ■ River left bank road. The Prime - Minister when in Christchurch had arranged for the placing of 250 men, and the Forestry Department would be absorbing there another 200 about the middle of nest month. Towards the end of June the Forestry Department would be able to place 100 men in . Dunedin. Arrangements had been made for the placing of 24 men on public works in Invercargill. The Minister mentioned also that the subsidies promised to local bodies for the current financial year totalled £107,750, of which sum £40,601 had been approved since the presents Government came into power. Instructions that the number of men on public works was to be increased were issued on December 17, on which date there were 12,530 men employed. By February 23 the number had increased _ ’4,554, but there had 'been a slight reduction since then, and the total number employed on April 27 was 13,850, compared with 11,038 on April 28, 1028. Thus, there were. 2812 more men employed on public works now than at the corresponding period last year. Excluding contractors and local body employees the average number of Government employees in March, 1029, was ’ cora P are( l with 7605 in March, 1928, an increase of 2681. The Minister added that 4700 men. had been sent to public works, including raiiway works, since the aspumption of oflico by the present Government.