UNEMPLOYMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 20662, 18 April 1929, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT.

To the Editor.

Sir,—l see by the papers there are still unemployed about. Regarding the meeting held in the Trades Hall it is evident that some who were present did not want to go out of the town for work. The remarks about grass being on the streets and making the town nice, etc., speak for themselves. Men that want work should go to it as quickly as possible, not hang about looking at grass and weeds growing. Most of the poor ratepayers do that job themselves; they pay enough now in rates without being levied for more simply to keep some in the town. Another suggestion was that seventy additional men would be added to those already employed on the sewerage works and that the men work week about. What nonsense! Those now employed on the sewerage seem to be fairly good workers and are now used to it. To make an alteration such as is suggested would upset the bosses of each gang as well as the men themselves and the job would cost a lot more to the ratepayers. Some men like to work a week and loaf the next; there are some who would not keep a steady job at any price. These men are not any good to any employer. Regarding Mr Torn CXByme's remarks: the idea regarding clearing and draining land is all right but unless done by contract would cost more than the land would be worth. It is a wellknown fact that a lot of good workers would prefer contracts but the loafers won’t look at it; more days, more dollars with them; they don’t care whether the jobs pay or not, but a genuine worker likes to feel he is earning his wages. What New Zealand wants is men with capital to open up industries such as the shale works, mines, and industries and those who want, work must get where it is, not hang about towns waiting for grass to grow and trying to beat others for their jobs.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER.