UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

REGISTRATION FIGURES

RELEASED BY MINISTER RETURN TO MAY 26. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 4. The new Minister of Labour, (the Hon. S. G. Smith), has signalized his assumption of office by deciding to make available for publication, the unemployment registration figures for the Dominion. In a statement to-day, the Minister announced that for the week which ended on May 26 last, the latest available return, the applications for work pending, revealed by the reports from the labour bureaux and post offices, totalled 5,084. Of these, 2,614 were shown as bqing with dependents, and 2,470 without dependents. The totals for the four main centres were:— Auckland City .. 1,494 Wellington City 650 Christchurch City 858 Dunedin City 367 The Minister added that during the week under review, a total of 433 men was placed through the labour bureaux, practically all being absorbed on Government works. “The Government realizes the seriousness of the position, and every effort is being made to meet the situation,” said Mr. Smith. “It is.to be hoped that there will be complete co operation with the Government by the private employers and citizens in order to mininize the difficulties of unemployment in New Zealand.” RELIEF WORKS. CITY COUNCIL’S DIFFICULTY. Wellington, June 4. A deputation representing the Wellington City Council waited on the Prime Minister to-day to urge that the conditions on which the Government pays a subsidy on local body relief work should be released. It was stated that the Government required that at least 60 per cent of the amount should be expended on labour, but as all works in the city suitable for unemployed had been exhausted, it was not possible to continue on the 60 per cent basis. Footpaths were urgently required, but would not be allowed by the Public Works Department because of the proportion of the cost involved in materials.

The Prime Minister said he appreciated the difficulty the Council found itself in. The Council must be finding it extremely hard to find work around the city on which it could put relief workers. Wellington had done more than any other city in New Zealand in the matter of unemployment relief, and the City. Council could reasonably ask for special consideration in view of the special circumstances. Where local authorities had not done all that they might have done to meet the unemployment situation, the responsibility must rest with them. Mr Forbes said he would be very pleased to consider the deputation’s request for modification of the conditions of the subsidy in view of the particular circumstances.

Councillor G. Mitchell remarked that in the past the council contributed 70 per cent of„ the cost of relief works as compared with the Government’s 30 per cent contribution.