UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19896, 15 June 1926, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

THE LOCAL POSITION A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK PROSPECTS OF RELIEF WORK. The unemployment position in Invercargill, although not becoming any more acute, is still serious. The latest figures from the Government Labour Bureau show that the number of applicants for work total 98. The figures have hovered in the vicinity of 100 for the past three weeks, and before that time the names on the books were never more than 75. Opinions expressed to a Times reporter yesterday, however, gave the impression that within the next two months there should be a decided easing in the labour markets as the works which had closed down for the winter would recommence. It is understood that in the meantime the Public Works Department contemplates the establishment of relief works to give employment to unskilled labourers. Certain roads have been surveyed with a view to having them reformed and this should absorb a good deal of the available labour if the suggestion is carried to fruition. At the present time there seems to be more unemployment among unskilled workers than among skilled craftsmen. The difference, however, is not very great as the following detailed list of unemployed on the books of the Government Labour Bureau shows—One engine-driver, three farm hands, 67 labourers, one grocer, one motor driver, one clerk, six ploughmen, one mechanic, one painter, one married couple, one bricklayer, one tinsmith, one salesman, two bakers, two firemen, one carpenter’s apprentice, one slaughterman, two waitresses, two housemaids, and two generals. Fourteen labourers were placed in employment with the Public Works and two in private employment during the past week. A slack period generally is at present being experienced in farming work, with the result that there is little if any demand for farm labour. The position in the skilled trades is more satisfactory now than it was when the demand for labour first slackened off. Mr C. Provan, secretary of the Painters’, Plumbers’ and Carpenters’ Union stated yesterday that there had been somewhat of a revival in these trades, and he had no men on his books awaiting positions. He previously thought that the position would not ease to any extent until the spring, as a large number of men had come from northern centres in the hope of securing work. When they found there was no prospect of immediate employment many of them returned to their home towns. There is little work offering at the goods sheds, twenty men being turned down yesterday. Fifty-six men were employed there yesterday, but these were more or less regular employees termed “permanent casuals.” Mr J. Walker, yard foreman, stated that surplus men were taken on only when there was a large amount of shipping goods to sort out and unload. The activity in the shipping shed reflected on the second shed when the goods came back from the stores to be consigned to the country. At the present time no extra men were being taken on and there was no prospect of doing so until about June 25, when an overseas vessel is due to arrive at Bluff. He will then be able to take on an extra 50 men besides the “permanent casuals.” A suggestion came from the War Funds’ Association on Wednesday last for the Stock Department to get the names of farmers who were willing to allow men to “dig” rabbits on their properties. The idea of “digging” the rabbits instead of ferreting or trapping was proposed as this is really the only means of exterminating them. Rabbitekins are now worth anything up to 1/-, and it was thought that this would be a means of giving the men temporary work. The response from farmers has been good, but in several instances when men have been offered such employment it has been refused. Some men, however, have taken to this proposal, and have gone out to farms. The exact number is at present unknown, but it is thought to be somewhere in the vicinity of twelve or fourteen.