WORK WANTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 5

WORK WANTED

DEPUTATION TO MAYOE REPRESENTATIONS TO BE MADE TO MINISTERS A deputation of unemployed waited on the Mayor, Mr. O. L, Armstrong, this inoruing, and drew attention once again to their need For relief and willingness to accept work anywhere for the support of their families. The group comprised 21 men. all of a good stamp, a.ttd all anxious to lose n (> opportunity of receiving employment. Only two among tho score demurred at the prospect of taking up Government work at the recognised rates, namely 9s per day for single men and 12. s per tiny for married men, and these two did not cany their objections to the. point of refusing to accept country employment at these rates. Mr. Armstrong impressed upon the applicants that if he were to ask the Government to provide work for them they must be prepared definitely to accept what relief was obtained for them, and he further slated l hat no man should place his name on the list unless he could he relied on to go to the jobs allotted. The men intimated that they fully understood the necessity for this assurance, and gave their names and other particulars lor the compilation of a. list.

Later the Mayor drafted (lie following telegram . for transmission to flic l.'rj,uie Minister and the Minister of Public Works: "A large deputation of unemployed waited at Mayor's office this morning asking for assistance to obtain employment. As the, matter is now very acute, can you possibly arrange for tlie Public Works Department to employ these men. All are willing to accept relief rates, and appear to be of a good stamp of workmen. The borough has IB men now employed. 1 would earnestly ask for an urgent reply, as the position is reallv serious.—('. E. Armstrong. Mayor."' APPLICATIONS INCREASING The Labor Department's office in Gisborne has experienced a considerable increase in the number of applications for relief during the past 10 days. Tiie week before last there were Ho men on the list, and by Saturday this number had increased by almost half, while the applications received during the current week have again swelled the number greatly It is evident that the cessation of seasonal employment at the freezing works has thrown a number of men on the labor market, and that the closing down of certain public works through shortage of money is adding to Die effect. The Borough Council has received from the Labor Department a reply to its application for a subsidy for the fund raised in Gisborne for the payment of wages in relief, the Minister intimating that the request had been referred to the Minister of Public Works, who will no doubt advise the council as to the procedure to be followed in seeking the subsidy.