UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 28

UNEMPLOYMENT.

MEETING AT TOWN HALL. A representative meeting of citizens concerned in the unemployment problem was held at tho Town Hall on July 5. The meetint! was convened by tho Deputy Mayor (Cr W. B. Taverner), and those present included about 30 representatives of public bodies, Labour organisations, and social wor rs, and perhaps as many more who appeared to no among those who are at tnc present time in search of work. The Deputy Mayor presided. The Chairman explained that the meeting had arisen from a previous meeting held at the Trades Hall and also because of many private representations made to him from citizens who saic that the unemployment position was acute. His own difficulty bad been inability to gauge the Sosition with anything like accuracy. hat was the reason he had called the meeting, and tli - had invited all who were likely to be able to assist. Very little so far had been accomplished, but bo had received assurance >-oth from the Prims Ministar and from Mr Tapley, M.P., that the Government was making every effort to relieve the position. He thought that after full discussion they should sst up a committee, and, after ascertaining the position as exactly as possible, it would taka steps to find employment. They had in their midst unemployed women, and it was difficult to fee how they could he assisted by public bodies. At tbs seme time, there should he do difficulty in establishing a fund to assist those in distress. He had received

a number of apologies for absence, and an offer from the choir of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church to give a concert in aid of the fund that would doubtless be established.— (Applause.) He invited a full and free discussion, and said he would do his best to assist any organisation that they might establish. Mr G. S. Thomson said he had one or two suggestions to offer from the economic standpoint. Anything done should be of a non-party character. He pointed out that unemployment compelled men to accept lower wages, and proceeded to moke a lengthy attack on various institutions, which he considered were attempting to lower wages. He commended certain businesses which make special provision for the comfort of their employees. The Chairman said he had not the slightest intention of allowing this to be turned into a political meeting. They were there for the purpose of devising ways and means of reducing unemployment and that was the limit of discussion which he proposed to permit. The Rev. V. G. B. King said ho understood tho mam purpose of the meeting was to find out the number of the unemployed. A representative of the Labour Department rpse to give the figures of the unemployed, and said the department had on its register 165 unemployed of whom 78 were married and 87 single. These were men only. Mr G. 8. Thomson said there were 50 to 100 unemployed in connection with the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union. Many of them were women. Mr J. Mac Man us said that the city had been spending about £BO.OOO per annum recently and this obviously could not be kept up. They had been doing this to keep employment going until the Government could assist. He referred to tho Naseby and Arrowtown works, and said

that employment could be found there even in the winter time. The Government, finding that the City Council and the Drainage Board were doing something to relieve the situation, was trying to leave it all to them and to shirk its own responsibility. The General Labourers’ Union had declined to make any parade of unemployment or to lead those thrown out of work by the close of the Exhibition to expect that something special would be done for them here as they wished these to return elsewhere. It was therefore impossible for him to give an exact estimate of the extent of unemployment. They recognised that the situation was somewhat abnormal here on account of the numbers that had come from elsewhere to the Exhibition. He had no intention of making any suggestion other than that it was the Government’s duty to do something They had opportunity in the Naaoby and Arrowtown schemes. Now that the difficulty between the Harbour Board and the Drainage Board had been overcome there was no reason why certain works such as those at Bauchop street and Coates crescent should not be gone on with. The Chairman said he had met with disappointment In his effort to induce the Government to set about Immediately the demolition of the old Post Office. ..i j. M'Crae, representing the Returned Soldiers' Association, said the association had had 37 unemployed on its books. Of these 17 had obtained temporary employment with the City Council and the Domnin Board, leaving 20 on their books. A lady rose to ask if it was true that the unemployed were charged 5s for registering their names with the Labour Department. The representative of the department present rose promptly to say it was nonsense.

The lady was heard to remark she had been told this three times. Mr C. E. Hunt, speaking for the Carpenters’ Union, said that there were about 20 out of employment, of whom some were not skilled. Mr J. Loudon, representing the Harbour Board, said that the board’s acting engineer had told him that if certain details could be fixed up with the City Council street formation on Bauchop street and Coates crescent and Wycliffe street could be undertaken that would immediately absorb 50 men. The acting engineer had agreed to find as much work as he possibly could.—(Applause.) Mr W. E. S. Knight, representing the Hospital Board, said that the board had a permanent staff of workmen, and it "was not often that outside labour was required. It was absolutely futile to ask unemployed to go out into the country to look for work. —(Hear, hear.) Men now in the country should be warned against coming into the town to look for work. His board would do everything it possibly could to assist. The Rev. V. G. B. King said that the first step might be a resolution urging on the Government the necessity for starting work for the citizens of Dunedin now out of work. The last few times there had been unemployment he had been on the committees, and he thought on the last occasion there were 460 unemployed, and they were all absorbed very quickly. He moved that they press on the Government the urgent necessity of starting v ~ks to reduce unemployment. Mr J. Robinson said that the unions with which he was connected did not have much unemployment. The work offered should be necessary work, and not chanty work, and should therefore be paid for at full union rates. His council could not approve of relief works being started at less than the standard rate of wages. He thought that that ought to be made quite clear to the Government.— (Applause.) Mr Loudon questioned very much the utility of passing a motion in such general terms. It would be much better to suggest some definite work and urge that the Government start it. He took it that the men wanted woTk. They did not want charity.— (“Hear, hear, 1 and apMr R. Harrison said he was slightly in favour of the motion, but lie would like to see something more practical than appealing to the Government. If the men walking the streets to-day looking for work had to wait for the Government to act, God help them!—(Applause.) The chairman was inquiring how many there were out of work. If there was only one such case it w’as a crime of the community to allow that one to cry for work. He suggested that an influential committee be set up and a meeting of unemployed called to meet them. The committee could then sift the evidence in each individual case. Some of these people were absolutely on their beam ends. That very morning he had been in a house where there were five children, and the man had been out of work for five weeks. There was not a particle of food in the house, and when a loaf of bread was put on the table a child fell on it like a ravenous animal. Such things were enough to make a man weep. He suggested that afforestation might be used to usefully absorb some of the unemployed. He told of a recent immigrant who had been bitterly disappointed in his search for work. His statement that there was plenty of money about and that relief could be given met with hearty applause. The Chairman said he was inclined to agree with Mr Loudon that some definite work should be mentioned. The Government was being bombarded with such resolutions. A large amount of the City Council’s work could not possibly be done in winter. All that could be done in the matter of tree planting had been going on all the winter. It was not somuch a question of money as of finding work that could be carried on at this season. Speaking generally of relief work, their experience had been that much money had been spent with very little indeed to show for it. The illfated Ocean Beach drive was a glorious example. The works that would be put in hand would be of a permanent and necessary character. Mr King said he was willing to withdraw his motion, and to propose the setting up of a committee which would make representations to the Government if it thought fit. Mr G. S. Thomson moved—“ That a committee of 10, with power to add to their number, be set up to go into the question, with power to act.” Mr R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Hilda) expressed pleasure that the motion had been withdrawn. It was the place of the local bodies to put forward definite suggestions of works that might be put in hand. They all regretted that this unemployment should be iu existence, especially in the midst of winter. If this committee was set up and possible works considered they could then make gome representations to the Government, which he was sure was anxious to assist. He seconded the resolution. Mr J. Robinson expressed the view that the committee should be as wide as possible, and should give definite instruction in one respect. He moved —“ That this meeting of Dunedin citizens set up an unemployment relief committee, composed of representatives of local public bodies, Employers’ Federation, Manufacturers’ Association, Expansion League, social workers, and trade unions, to explore all avenues of employment for the purpose of assisting the unemployed to obtain work, such work to be of a requisite nature, and to be paid for at the rate of wages prescribed by the Arbitration Court.” He moved that as an amendment. Mr Harrison seconded tho amendment. The Chairman pointed out that many of those mentioned were not represented, and might not be prepared to act on the terms laid down.

Mr Hall suggested that the second part of the amendment should be deleted. While he favourod tho payment of Arbitration Court wages there were others who held different yjews and that might cause difficulty. He did not want to see a resolution that would alienate sympathy from the unemployed. . The Rev. Tulloch Yuille expressed the hope that the motion would be carried though he was in sympathy with the amendment. He believed that Arbitration Court wages should be paid, hut he thought the matter should be referred to the committee. They might bring pressure to bear

to secure the demolition of the old Poet Office, for instance. All this work they were doing was only tinkering with the problem. He was in touch with numbers of immigrants and the pitiful thing was that many of them were trained artisans. Some foremen were good to the immigrants, and some of them were not. If a little patience were exercised towards them ifc would go a long way towards solving the problem. He thought they should go forward simply trusting the oommittee. He suggested to the mover of the amendment to let the motion go forward.—(Applause.) Mr Loudon expressed the view that the resolution should go forward. He had intended to suggest that the Mayors of the city and surrounding boroughs should cooperate in suggesting works that might be gone on with. Mr Thomson, speaking against the amendment, said it was inadvisable to appoint representatives without their knowledge. The matter of wages was not for such a meeting as that, but for the Trade Union. Mr Harrison again spoke in favour of the amendment. The Chairman pointed out that the passing of it would make it very difficult for the committee to approach the Government in view of its policy in the matter. Another speaker complained that they were leaning too much on the Government in tl\is matter, and went on to discuss the new Post Office proposal and the storm water drainage of the Flat. The amendment, on being put, was declared lost on the voices, and the motion was carried without opposition. Mr Thomson then proposed the following committee:—Cr Taverner (Deputy Mayor, chairman). Messrs J. E. MacManus (General Labourers’ Union), R. Harrison (Alliance of Labour), J. Robinson (Labour Council), C. E. Hunt (Carpenters’ Union), Miss Runcintan (Women Factory Workers), Messrs J. M. White (Returned Soldiers’ Association). W. E. S. Knight (Hospital Board), Rev. V. G. B. King (church workers), Mr R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Kilda), G. 8. Thomson (hotel workers). Cr MacManus asked if there was any representative of the Employers’ Association, the Manufacturers’ Association, the Expansion League, or such bodies as that on the committee. The Chairman pointed out that names could be added. Someone moved that the Rev. Tulloch Yuille be added to the committee. Miss Batt asked if that committee was to deal with women employed. If so, there should be women on it. The Chairman agreed, and moved that the names of Miss Batt and Sister Nora be added to the committee, and this was approved. Mr Loudon said that all surrounding local bodies should be represented, and Mr Thomson said that was intended. Rev. W. Walker (representing the Council of Christian Congregations) said that representatives of other local bodies should be appointed at once. He thought they were too much inclined to rely on the Government, and he suggested the raising of a loan by the City Council. He thought the Government was making a huge mistake in bringing in so many immigrants during the winter season.— (Applause.) The Chariman said he took it the committee would meet immediately and no time would be lost. The motion was carried without dissent. The names of the Revs. Tulloch Yuille and W. Walker were added to’ the committee. The Chairman returned thanks to the audience for their attendance, and expressed his intention of doing everything in his power to assist. Sister Nora suggested that a fund should be started at once. She said there wero 40 or 50 women visiting the registry offices every day looking for work. Mr Hunt moved that a fund be established for the relief of unemployment. He 6aid his union would do its part in assisting, and there were any number of others who would do so. Mr Thomson seconded the motion. Mr Loudon suggested that the chairman wait on the editors of the two daily papers asking them to assist. Mr Hall suggested that an executive be set up to deal with neecssitous cases. At the Chairman’s request, the committee remained behind to transact preliminary business. Mr J. Robinson was appoined secretray, and it was decided to hold meetings at the Town Hall and to get in touch with surrounding local bodies immediately. A register of unemployed women is to be opened at the Y.W.C.A., and all women out of work are invited to hand ir. their names there. A similar register for unemployed men is to be set lip at the Town Hall. GREEN ISLAND’S EFFORT. To assist in relieving the present unemployment position, the Green Island Borough Council, at a special meeting last week, decided to raise a loan of £2500, which is to be expended in the following works:—North Taieri road, £450; Church street, £280; Kaikorai Valley road, £500; Reid street, £100; Neill street, £300; ■torni-water under railway from Church street, £65; footpath, Concord, £6O; footpath, Sunnyvale, £250; Short street, £150; Patterson street culvert, £120; Brighton road footpath, £120; Prosser street, £80; Rennie street culvert, £25. Disapproval of the move was expressed by only one 'councillor.

CLERGYMANS OUTSPOKEN UTTERANCE. AUCKLAND. July 5. If the Christian Church ignored a great human probbm like unemployment it was guilty of the fin of the Priest and the Levite in the Parablo who passed by on the other side, said the Rev. J. Lamb Harvey in an address on “Unemployment and the Unemployed” in St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church last evoning. Rightly seer., said Mr Harvey, the unemployed til in was a tragic figure Cod had sent him into* the world to contribute his share to the world’s work, and the world in effect raid it had no use for him. denying him the elementary right to toil and to onrn his bread. This was to strike at the righteousness of things, and at the purpose of the Creator. A workless man who had no money must do one of three things; he must beg and live on charity, or steal or starve; and it could not be the will of God that these alternatives should be thrust on any man. It was no use to •ay that unemployment was inevitable. A properly directed and organised society—-

not to speak of a Christian society—would see to it that useful work of some sort was always available for its citizens. The will to do it and some statesmanlike foresight would solve the problem. Nations could always provide armies and navies saying they were essential. They ought to say that work for their citizens was essential too, and plan accordingly. Some of the workless were shiftless and thriftless, but the bulk of the unemployed were worthy citizens. They were the victims of circumstances, and many of them were in real distress. Ask the members of the Charitable Aid Board who have the thankless task of relieving distress, and at the same time guarding the interests of the ratepayer/* ne said “and they will tell you that never before have they had so many respectable people coming to them in dire difficulty.” Mr Harvey urged that immigration, except for land settlement, should be suspended for at least six months. It was monstrous and unfair to all parties that workers should be brought in in thousands to flood further an already flooded labour market. Nomination, with its undertaking to provide employment, was in many cases the merest farce. ‘Xet us put our hands in our pockets/* •aid Mr Harvey in conclusion. “If we can provide a day’s work or assist' a struggling family to keep the wolf from the ° r a Bl °k mother or a barefoot child, we are serving Christ in the persons of his needy brethren.” A retiring collection was taken up on behalf of the unemployment fund. SEAMEN OUT OF WORK. POSITION BECOMING ACUTE. It is estimated that at present there are over 100 unemployed seamen at Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Inquiries made by a reported show that some of the seamen, especially those with dependents, are find mg some difficulty in making both ends meet. The Secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Seamen’s Union stated that the position was very bad, and the prospects for the future were not very bright. The positL°r\ le ex P lained - waa accounted for by the fact that a large number of men had armed in New Zealand as extra hands on vessels from Home ports. These men were willing to work their passage for a small, remuneration in the hope of securing better positions in the Dominion. Then, again, some of th 9 immigrant ships carry a number of extra hands. These are dumped in Now Zealand, with the result that the number of applications for seamen’s jobs is increasing all the time, and there are not enough ships employed on the coast to absorb these men. It was stated that a source of unemployment is occasioned by the practice of some of the shipping companies of chartering vessels, instead of utilising the units of tbeir own fleet, which, in seme cases, are lying idle at various ports. It was also pointed out that the carriage of phosphates from Nauru was not being done by New Zealand ships, but by chartered vessels whose crews were working under articles taken out in other countries, this reflected in such a way that steamers of one well-known line which were formerly engaged in the Nauru phosphate trade are now laid up, there being no business for such vessels in consequence of the presence of chartered ships. In consequence of this a large number of seamen had been rendered idle. It was contended by the Seamen’s Union that all ships engaged in the Nauru Island trade to New Zealand ports should be under New Zealand articles, and such ships should comply with New Zealand conditions. It was to be deplored that outside ships should be employed to bring phosphates to New Zealand from Nauru when previously this trade was carried on with New Zealand ships manned by New Zealand crews. It was also pointed out that complaints have been made by some of the New Zealand unemployed seamen that certain shipping companies were inclined to give seamen from overseas the preference of jobs, the principal reason being that the men from Home were not so well versed in the matter of awards and agreements, and therefore were not in the same position to stand up for their rights. It was further stated that some of the immigrants who leave England with the intention of seeking employment on the land in the Dominion fail to carry this out, and a number of these men subsequently swell the ranks, of th<; Seamen’s Union. The Seamen’s Union considers that the Tarious shipping companies trading between Green Britain and New Zealand should not be allowed to discharge any extra hands in the Dominion, and, further, the companies should be compelled to return these men to the port where they joined the ship. The Seamen’s Union official stated that a large number of the 100 odd seamen unemployed in Dunedin belong to New Zealand, and some were immigrants. Many of the men are married, with families depending on them. So far as the Seamen’s Union can see, there is little prospect of vessels being recommissioned to absorb the men. There have not been so many seamen out of employment in the Dominion since 1890. WATEiRFRONT WORK. Like the unemployed seamen, waterside workers at Dunedin are also experiencing a trying time, as there has not been an abundance of work during the past few weeks. On several days within the past weeks very few men have found even half a day’s work, and the weekly paysheets have been very small in consequence. For the week ending July 3, for instance, a number of men drew less than £l—a mere pittance for a man with a family dependent on him. It will be the same this week. While a few men, perhaps, may draw a fair wage on Friday, others will draw only a few shillings. One of the stevedores stated that the position was not very bright, and men looking for work were foolish to look to the waterfront at the present moment. “We have one or two shipa in port,” he said, “and about 500 men to work them. Unfortunately, only a few gangs are needed, and the great majority must remain idle.** This statement was borne out late on the afternoon of July 6, when between 250 and 300 men were present, as there was a prospect of engaging labour to work the steamer Baron Murray. This vessel, however, was delayed by heavy weather on the run from Lyttelton, and as , the will be late in reaching Dunedin the neoe—ary labour waa not engaged. The

present slack period on the waterfront is making things extremely hard for many of the men, and the position will become more acute unless there is a revival in shipping. DUNEDIN MANUFACTURERS. DOING THEIR BEST. At the conclusion of the special meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, held on Tuesday afternoon last to consider the question of tne building of a new dredge for tne Otago Harbour Board, the President (Mr J. Hogg) said he had seen it stated in the press reports that neither their association nor the Employers’ Association had been xepresented at the meeting regarding unemployment the previous evening. He desired to say that their association had received no request to be represented, and that they had had no official notice about it. The speaker urged manufacturers, wherever possible, to find employment, particularly for married men. He knew, however, that the manufacturers were doing their best, and, as a matter of fact, they were probably doing a good deal more than other bodies. In a brief discussion which followed Mr Hogg’s remarks, it wa3 agreed that, if the importation of outside manufactures could be restricted, and these articles made in the Dominion, there would be a big falling off in the numbers of unemployed. TRAMWAY CONSTRUCTION. ADDITIONAL MEN EMPLOYED. Mr -Richards, engineer of the tramway department, stales that he is using every endeavour to absorb as much labour as possible, and that at the present time he has about 15 more men employed than would be the case under normal conditions. A start will be made on the extension of the Anderson’s Bay line towards the cemetery in about a month’s time. There are. however, only five chains to be made, and naturally this work will not occupy much time. As regards the duplication of the line from Rawhiti street to Ross’s Corner, not much hone of any immediate relief to the unemployed can be offered, as it will be about three months before a start can be made on this work. CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL’S EFFORT. WORK FOR 100 MEN. CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. About 60 or 70 unemployed men packed the gallery of the Christchurch City Council Chamber last evening while three spokesmen placed the unemployment position before the council. After the deputation had retired the council received, in committee, reports from Mr A. R. Galbraith, city engineer, and Mr J. Young, city curator, and decided farther to subsidise subscriptions to the Citizens’ Unemployment Fund to the extent of £1250, and to provide work for 100 men as soon as possible. With the £750 previously voted, the council’s grant now amounts to £2OOO. July 9. According to an authority, the position regarding unemployment is more critical. Twelve new applicants called on the • Government Labour officials to-day, in addition to 28 who renewed their applications for work. Three men were placed in private employment. Of the 12 new men, five were single and the rest were married, with 14 dependents. Among them were 7 labourers, and there were 1 plasterer, 1 farm hand, 1 cycle mechanic, 2 salesman, and an engineer. At. the Trades Hall 14 new men applied, 8 being single. There was a meeting of the men this afternoon, the board announcing the meeting containing the motto: “Employment at adequate wages or full maintenance.” On the platform in the hall was a table holding bread and other foodstuffs. Twelve men have breakfast, dinner, and tea at the hall daily, and a hotelkeeper sends along a tray full of hot food every day. A total of 50 married men are drawing rations from the Trades Hall. SITUATION IN INVERCARGILL. AN IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. INVERCARGILL, July 6. Invercargill’s list of unemployed has shown a decided decrease during the past fortnight, this week’s figures being 77 as compared with 127 three weeks ago. Small fluctuations are noticeable in specialised trades. The position at the wharves at Bluff has not called for much casual labour to work the few coastal vessels that have called during the week. The detailed figures are as follows: Bakers one, blacksmiths one, bridge carpenters one, carpenters one, clerks three, cycle mechanics one, engine-drivers one, farm bands five, firemen one, labourers 54, married couples one, motor drivers two, ploughmen two, rabbiters one, share milkers one, and tinsmiths one. At a special meeting of the council tonight it was decided to expend the sum of £10,700 in various works, the main purpose being to r'ieve the unemployed situation. July 9Although the nunfber of unemployed in Invercargill has not decreased materially during the past few days, those in touch with labour matters seem confident that the position will improve greatly within a month or so. The number of names on the register at the Labour Bureau is now about 77, compared with 127 about a month ago. It was stated by a labour official to day that when the proposed corporation relief works could be commenced all the unemployed would be given positions. The relief works, for which £10,700 was authorised at a recent council meeting, will take the forjn of street repairing, the laying of sewerage and water mains, and preparing the site for the tepid baths. The secretary of the skilled trades unions said that out of 400 carpenters in the town only five were out of work at present. Only two painters were unemployed, and plumbers, painters, and cabinetmakers were all fully occupied. He stated that a number of large buildings would be erected locally in the near

future, and he forecasted that the slight amount of unemployment now being experienced would disappear as soon os the spring came round. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON, July 6. The question of unemployment in Auckland was brought before the House of Representatives again to-day. The member for Auckland Central referred to the address by the Rev. J. Lamb Harvey and to a statement that unemployed workers in Auckland had increased since last week. Mr W. E. Parry declared that conditions had become so alarming that ministers of religion were making statements about the matter. Did the Prime Minister think that what the Government was doing was enough to cope with the serious problem? Mr Coates, in reply, said that his attention had not been drawn to the statements, but he would have inquiries made. “I only know,” he added, “that the Government wanted 20 men at 14s a day lately. A week elapsed, and only six applied.” Mr Parry: That was not in Auckland. Air Coates: No, it looks as if the position were being met by the Government and the local authorities. Air Parry: It is in Auckland that the big rush is. Air Coates: We are doing our best. Air P. Fraser (Wellington Central): Are you doing much for the single man? Air Coates: There is no work in Wellington for single men. I am advised that they must go further out. Regarding Auckland, Air Coates said that the City Council expected to have repair work shortly for 200 to 250 men, and a number of local bodies had sent in applications regarding loans. At least two, running up to something like £40,000, had been agreed to. These were for works intended to be rushed on ahead of the schedule time in order to provide employment. DUNEDIN REGISTRATIONS. AVERAGE OF FIFTY DAILY. The register of unemployed at the Town Hall showed an increase to 148 names yesterday morning, which represents a daily registration of about 50 names. Twelve girls have registered in the unemployment book at the Y.W.C.A. Eighteen men have been placed in employment so far, and 12 started on the Ward street job yesterday morning. Another six married men are engaged at cleaning up work in the Botanic Gardens. A meeting of the Citizens Relief Committee was held yesterday, but nothing further than the reporting of progress was done. It was agreed to find a camping outfit for three young men who had been out of work for a long time. They had been offered a wood-cutting contract at Otekaike, and the committee considered Cvt this was a case in which it should riifcke itself responsible. WOMEN AND GIRLS SEEK WORK. On Saturday 200 men had registered their names as unemployed at the Town Hall, and work is being found for small numbers of these. The City Council and also the Drainage Board and the Harbour Board are all doing a considerable amount to relieve the situation and are employing much above their normal staffs. Six .more men were'' sent to work at the Gardens yesterday, and three labourers were found for a private employer. In some cases there are families in urgent need of the necessaries of life. At the Y.W.C.A. 20 women and girls have been registered as in search of employment, and so far temporary positions have been found for two of these. There do rot appear to be any cases of real distress among them, but some who are dependent on others at the present time are most anxious to do something to contribute to the income of the home. Those who have registered are largely domestic workers, but there are some tradeswomen of experience among them. Borne of these might be able to undertake temporary sewing. Some are willing to take a position in the country. The unemployment is probably largely seasonal, and to some extent aggravated by the Exhibition. Girls who l»a.ve been working in such places as Queenstown throughout the summer have returned to Dunedin for the winter to find that positions they could usually rely on getting have been filled by girls from the Exhibition. Members of the Unemployment Committee meet at the Y.W.C.A. at 2.30 every afternoon to interview applicants. Information from employers as to possible vacancies would be much appreciated by the committee. AIOSGIEL’S EFFORT. A subscription list for shilling subscriptions has now been opened by the Mayor, and donations may be left with the town clerk at his office during office hours. The Deputy Alayor will take charge of subscriptions at Mosgiel Woollen Mills. LOCAL COMMITTEE MEETS. A meeting of the recently-formed Unemployment Committee was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday morning last. The Deputy Mayor (Cr W. B. Taverner! presided. The Chairman said that several local bodies had intimated their willingness to co-operate, and he was sure that the chain of relief work would be most important. He suggested that an Executive Committee of five members be set up to deal with urgent matters, and that Mr Lewin be appointed treasurer. The duplication of the railway line from Ravensbourne to Burkes had been authorised, and the committee might suggest that the work be pushed ahead. Mr Lewin was appointed treasurer. The Secretary (Mr J. Robinson) reported that 58 names had been enrolled on the register in the engineer’s room. Miss Bait said that five girls had registered at the Y.W.C.A. Mr G. 8. Thomson stated that the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union had decided to grant £1 Is towards the unemployment fund. Kirill

The Salvation Army wrote assuring the committee of any assistance.—The letter was received with thanks. Mr T. Somerville (Manufacturers* Association) said he was sure he was voicing the sentiments of the Alanufacturers’ Association when he said that its sympathy was toward finding work for the unemployed. As a manufacturer, he would have to say that factories were being run with large staffs not justified by the business offering. He believed that manufacturers generally were assisting largely in stopping further developments in unemployment by keeping on staffs. Mr W. T. Smellie (Alayor of Green Island) said that the loan work proposed at Green Island would employ from 15 to 20 men. Air W. B. Steel (Otago Expansion League) urged that full particulars of the registered unemployed be tabulated, so that men could be placed in work for which they wore suitable. The committee should take up a strong stand in cases where men left jobs in the country to get work in the city. Mr R. W. Hall (Alayor of St; Kildn) said that on Monday night the St. Kilda Borough Council would discuss the raising of a loan to be devoted to works. Two or three extra men were to be put on race and water drains in order to give relief. Mr J. P. Walls (Mayor of Mosgiel) said that he would endeavour to arrange with Mr Blair (chairman of the Taieri County Council) this evening to put work in hand. The only relief work done so far—a fencing job—had given employment to men outside the borough of Mosgiel. Air J. Lightfoot (secretary of the Labour Department) said that the machinery of the Labour Department made the department's office the most suitable place for the registration of the unemployed. Cr J. Wilson (chairman of the Works Committee) said that he anticipated that more men would lie placed on public works. The tramways, gas, and water departments were “pushing” the North-East Valley work, but the council had to wait for the pipes. The work, it was expected, would not be put in hand till September. There was no hope for a com mencement of the the tramway extension. The preparation between the works and tramways departments would take months, and he had already lost his patience in the negotiations for the purchase of porperties. as not one sale had yet been signed. The Harbour Board had not yet replied to the committee’s request for an indication of the preference of works, which the council could start on immediately. Tlie council was prepared to subsidise* the Unemployment Committee’s expenditure by £ for £ on road work at the Pine Hill subdivision for workers’ cottages to be erected by the corporation. The road construction costs would have to be kept to the lowest, as the purchasers of the homes would have to pay for the work ultimately. The plans were yet to be approved by the council, after which a portion of the work would bo proceeded with at once. As to the smaller works in various parts of the city, these could not be commenced until the engineering staff had prepared the details. The present trouble was that the staff was fully engaged, but the work was being pushed ahead as quickly .as was possible. In reply to Air MacManus. Mr Steel said that the Expansion League nad hoped that the Arrowtown irrigation scheme would have been further ahead to employ more men. The same applied to the Burkes railway duplication, which should be accelerated. This work would provide employment for the married men, and the single men could go to Arrow'town. Another work was the roading on the Clutha River to Tuapoka Mouth, on the Bruce County side. Surveys had been made at various times of the extension of the Otago Central Railway from Cromwell to Luggate, but no advice had been received on the contemplated date of starting the work. When Hillside reconstruction was commenced employment w'ould be given many men. On the motion of Mr Thomson, it was decided to make representations to the Harbour Board to expedite its works. Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman of the Otago Hospital Board) proposed the election en bloc of five members to the Executive Committee. Sister Nora moved that a sub-committee of four ladies be set up, the names of which were intimated. It was decided that the executive should consist of the following:—Chairman and secretary (ex-officio), the Rev. Bryan King, Cr J. Wilson, Air Harrison, Miss Runciman, and Air Shortt. Sister Nora, Aliss Batt, Miss Thomson, and Aliss Runciman were appointed a subcommittee to deal with the female Ride. They were given power to add to their number. Mr Thomson brought up the question of the City Council carrying out afforestation. Air Taverner replied that the Reserves Committee was considering the question, but lie understood that the planting could be carried out only at certain seasons. The Rev. W. Walker said that the needs were not being met at present, as work was open to only about 50 or 60 men, whereas about 300 men were out of work. The Government should be urged to put works in hand straight away, as in other centres. Mr Walker suggested that Dunedin should place men on work in the Botanic Gardens, ai was done in Christchurch. Mr AlacManus said that owing to the circumstances the Government might alter its legislation to allow of main highways work in the district. Cries were being heard from various parts, but the Government, under the present legislation, had to obtain quotas from the local bodies. Mr Somerville promised to see all the local members of Parliament. He considered that the Prime Minister should be asked why the demolition of the old Post Office was not being proceeded with. The committee decided to telegraph Mr Tapley asking him to see Mr Coates on the matter. AN APPEAL. The committee has made an appeal to all citizens who contemplate undertaking works to commence them immediately and to notify the Y.W.C.A. (in the case of female workers) or th« city engineer’s office.