UNEMPLOYMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16455, 17 June 1921, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

NO PROBLEM IN HAWKE’S BAY. [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, June 16. “ Air W. Reardon’s statement that the unemployment problem is so acute in Hawke’s Bay that workers are on the verge of soup kitchens is too ridiculous for words,” said Mr Esson, the representative of the Labour Department at Hastings, when shown a \Y eliington Press message this afternoon. Air Esson added that after complete investigation only two cases Requiring relief were found in Hastings. He had been advertising for married men, but could not get the quota required. It was the same at Napier. '• I’ve no cases of distress on my books. There are no soup kitchen conditions or anything approaching them,” he said. The chairman of the County Council said that the council had not discharged and had no intention of discharging permanent men. The county rates had been reduced to a flat rate of a halfpenny in the £ all round, because great difficulty had been experienced in collecting laßt year’s rate. The reduced rate was to relieve county ratepayers. This, however, did not affect unemployment. The council’s work would continue as usual, and as much money would be spent this year as was spent last year. The money required would be provided bv bank overdraft. He said that the present position had been brought about partly by the action of some sections of labour, for instance, the recent hold-up of shinping. the refusal of freezers to work last Christmas, and delays caused by shortage of coal. Regarding reduction of wages, the chairman said that the last award had increased the council’s exnenses by £3OOO. Tlie Mayor of Hastings said that Mr Reardon’s statement about reduction of wages was an absurdity, seeing that all the men were working under an Arbitration Court award. Regarding tne dismissal of the outside staff, the Mavor said that twenty-seven men Tint! been given up to two months’ notice, not with the object of nermanent o? even temporary dismissal, but to give the new overseer oomrvlete control/ by putting on men whom be requires.