UNEMPLOYMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 173, 27 August 1914, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT.

RELIEF MEASURES IN CHRISTCHURCH. A mooting of the. committee whi<-h lias been set up to consider the question of ''unemployment in Christehurch was held yesterday afternoon in the Labour Department's office. The Mayor, Mr 11. Holland, presided, and there were also present:—Messrs E. J. Howard and F. C. Ellis (labour unions), H. B. Sorensen (City Council), H. I). Aeland and F. Cooper (Employers' Association), J. B. Laurenson (Industrial Association), T. F. Gibson (Chamber of Commerce), and H. B. Bower (Labour Department). Mr Gibson said that he had spoken to several members of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce on the matter of unemployment, and they were of opinion that, there was plenty of work. Next winter would I) 6' the time when the pinch would come. The speaker thought, that at present' there was no unemployment caused by the war. . .Mr Holland: There is, unquestionably. Several contracts have been cancelled, and workers thrown out of employment, Several other members agreed that there was unemployment caused by the war.

Mr Gibsou said there was 110 reason why the Dominion should suffer. If contracts had been cancelled, that had ) been done too soon. The Dominion's trade should benefit from the war, instead'of losing by it. The Mayor: I agree with you there. M? Ac land remarked that if meat was going up in price the farmers would benefit, if they could get the meat away. The unemployment .at present was simply a question of funk on the part : of some employers. Mr Gibson: There is no shortage of money. x ; M'r Aeland said lie' had heard' of a case in' which peopile had taken ■ their money out of a bank stud buried it in their garden. . That was simply ridi- ■ callous. v. ' Mr Ellis said that in addition, to those , men, who were right out of work there \tei ; ie : a lot of meix on half-time. They could not live on that, and the reduced circulation of their wages affected ' other pieople also. Practically the whole ■ of the furniture trade workers were idle, besides bacon factory employees and tailors. Mr Laurenson said that he had been told that the Union was trying out for farm labour for South Canterburv. ■ Mr Howard: There are a good many farm workers looking for employment. If ipen are wanted in South Canterbury it looks as if the labour is riot being placed in'the right-direction. Mr Sorensen then moved that the Government be asked'to subsidise, £ for any money given for the relief of the unemployed. Mr Ellis said that the motion did not altogether appeal to him. If people : were in a funk they should be got' out of it. Full wages and full work wer.e required. Mr Howard thought the motion might be alright if the meeting .could suggest to the Government any work on which the money could be spent. The Mayor suggested the construction of a road to Victoria Park, and of a road between Christehurch and Lyttelton. The latter would be necessary if anything went wrong with the tunnel, and would be of defensive assistance if the country were invaded. Mr Howard then seconded the motion. an indication of how ."funk" had'affected some'people, Mr Laurenson instanced, but without giving any name, a wealthy man who had intended to build a new house at a eost of £SOOO, but had dropped the idea after war I broke out, although he had plenty of money. ~ Mr Aeland was of opinion that the Government could .do, something out of the Advances to Workers Fund. If workers who had intended to build homes would apply for money from the fund, and would build, much would be done to induce the builders to resume operations, and thus help in restoring public confidence. In reply to a question, Mr Howard said that more men were out of work than was usual at this time of the year. The motion was carried. It was also decided, on Mr Aeland's motion, that the Government be askedto advertise that money was available "in the Advances to Workers' Fund for workers who wished to build homes. The Mayor, at the request of the meeting, undertook to urge local bodies to push on with all possible works, and to request that requiring labour should -Communicate with the Labour The committee then adjourned till next Tuesday.