UNEMPLOYMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

GISBORNE REGISTER YEAR’S SUBSTANTIAL FALL ALMOST UNIQUE SITUATION The position of Gisborne in regard to unemployment registrations is almost unique in the records referring to last year, the number of registrations in the district having been reduced from 1686 in the first week of October, 1932, to 1127 on September 30. 1933. The general experience throughout the country has been the reverse of that recorded in the Gisborne district, for the Dominion total of unemployed increased by 1037. from 56.524 to 56,173. and the concentration of unemployed in the urban areas was more noticeable than during the previous year. The peak of the Gisborne registrations was reached during the week ending October 22, 1932, when 1744 men were enrolled on the unemployment register, and seeking relief through the No. 5 scheme. From that point onward, tlie registrations showed a steady drop, speeded up at intervals evidently by the result of changes of policy on the part of the Unemployment Board, and continuing until the week ending March 4, 1933. at which time the registrations totalled 1111. Then there began the seasonal climb of the unemployed figures for the winter, the peak for this period being reached on July 15. when 1259 men were enrolled and seeking work under the No. 5 scheme. Since July, the figures have shown a further decline up to September 30, when 1127 were shown as unemployed in the town and district. EXPLANATION OF THE DROP Part of the explanation for Ibis drop in numbers is contained in a footnote to the tabulated results of the year, as published by the Unemployment Board. The footnote reads :—“The above figures include all men receiving relief under No. 5 scheme, but do not include unemployed men who have been transferred from tlm registers to farm subsidy and other relief schemes of the board.” Hence it is not possible to judge, from the tabulation, the exact position regarding unemployment in this area.

It is possible, however, to offer sunie reasons for the great reduction iu the number of registrations, within the limits of the footnote quoted. At September, 1932, the registrations for this district included a large number of Maoris, and the purging of the register of Maori names was the first and the major step in reducing the number of enrolments in Poverty Bay. Then the Unemployment Board removed from the roll the names of waterside workers, who up to that time had been considered eligible, for relief. Then there followed the gradual transfer of a large number of men to farm subsidy and other relief schemes, as for instance the scrub-cut-ting projects which were pioneered in this district, and the various camp schemes.

A number of Gisborne single men were sent to Taupo, and only a portion of these have returned and re-register-ed for relief purposes in Gisborne, amt the same experience has been noted in connection with of leer men who have been sent to jobs elsewhere. Many men sent to casual jobs have secured - per- / manent. employment, of course, but the*proportion of these cases to the total of unemployed in the district is small. Up to September 30 of this year, tlie standing-down of married men for refusing to go to country camps had riotaffected the number of registrations in Gisborne. Nor, unfortunately, had the operation of the No, 10 building scheme, to any real extent, according to the observations of those in touch with the trade. It is likely that the attractions of the cities have been strengthened for many of the unemployed by the difference in treatment meted out there to those registered as unemployed, as compared with the country centres, and that the drift to the cities has been intensified as a result, this circumstance having its effect upon the number of registrations in the smaller centres.