UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1930, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

INCREASE OF 1812 IN WEEK ANTICIPATION OF SUSTENANCE. THE SCHEME NOT YET EVOLVED. .i:■ . • ? By Telegraph*—Pr*** Awoeiation. Wellington, Dec. 20. An increase of. nearly: 2000 in the number of unemployed in New Zealand for the week ended on December 15 is revealed in figures supplied yesterday by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith. The total for the week was if,442, an* actual increase of 1812 as compared with the previous week. The figures for the main centres are as follow, those for the previous week being given in parentheses:—. ■ • • < Auckland, 3101 (2625). With dependents, 1659; without dependehts, 1442. Wellington, 1854 (1221). With dependents, 1102; without dependents, 752. ■ Christchurch, 1771 (1671). With dependents, 1037; without dependents, 734. ' Dunedin, 687 (742). With dependents, 400; without dependents, 287. ' ’ -' ( Invercargill, 216 (213). With dependents, 135; without dependents, 81. The increase in the number of unemployed registered within three weeks has been 4040, and the figures for last week have broken all records. Never before have so many unemployed men, been on the books of the Labour Department, although it appears that the great increase in the registrations has been brought about by the belief, that the Unemployment, Board intends to pay

It was pointed,-out by the board last week that although the questidh of sustenance had been considered, it would be some time before it could devise means to pay sustenance to those who were unable to ’ find work! There is every possibility that it will be well on into the new year before a satisfactory scheme has been evolved. ' The: Wellington Unemployment Committee received advice to-day that the Government was unfavourable. to' the proposal recently made tsy. the committee that Trentham Camp , should be opened in order to provide temporary accommodatiori for single unemployed in the Wellington district .over Chnstmas and the New Year. Voicing disappointment at the decision to-day a .member of the .committee said that it was proposed that the cost should be borne, out of sustenance. It was understood ,the! scheme was approved by the G.0.C., who ’ was willing to co-operate in every way., The committed, was at:.a loss to know how ,to deal; withthe hundreds ‘of men .who, with their dependents, were practically destitute. It appeared, bettor to have them in some form of camp than roaming the streets.