THE UNEMPLOYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1926, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED.

"NO WORK TO-DAY." 'RETURNED SOLDIERS' FLIGHT. A BIG LIST. Every morning a large number of unemployed returned soldiers gather at the Returned Soldiers' Club in Customs Street in the hope that they will hear of some work offering. There was a typical scene there this morning, the waiting room being filled with members of the association anxious to learn what the day had brought forth. At fen o'clock a notice wa> posted up which r<!fid. "Xo work to-c2*7" The men in turn scanned it in silence, >et their lips firm, and quietly departed. Unfortunately notices of that kind liav.» been posted up frequently during the past few days, although the R.S.A., officials are doing their utmost in an endeavour to relieve the position. The secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr. S. H. Sharp), stated this morning that they had 333 unemployed returned soldiers on their books, although some of the men were also registered on the Labour Department's official list. They had placed 17 men on public works or county council jobs, and had also found more or less permanent work for others. A number, of the men seeking employment were | suffering from war injuries, and thus; could only do light work. He added that the association would be glad to hear from anybody who could offer either permanent or casual work for returned soldiers.

RABBIT-TRAPPING SCHEME. OFFER BY CITY FIRM. ' At a meeting of the Auckland Unemployment Relief Committee held this morning, a letter was received from Mr. Long, manager of Sanfords' Limited, stating that his firm were prepared to t.-ke rabbits caught by 200 men, and to pay 1/6 per pair, provided that the rabbits were trapped. It. was stated that a man could make 12/ a day by trapping eight pairs of rabbits. A suggtetion was made that the Farmers' Union might assist by permitting trapping on the properties of farmers. It was stated that traps could be procured at 27/6 per dozen. The Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon) said that the Farmers' Union might also be able to find accommodation for some of the men.

I Mr. Sharp said that there would aleo be the question of stores. The men would have to know something about the trapping of rabbits to mak« a success of it. It was decided to take up the matter with the Farmers' Union, with the object of having the proposal carried into effect. Action By Local Bodies. A letter was received from the Devonport Borough Council stating that it had been decided to raise £20,000 to carry out certain specified works at the earliest possible date. The Mayor of Devonport (Mr. T. Lamont) said that he was sorry that some of the other local bodies had not taken similar steps to raise money. There was also a wromk impression that only f 10,000 could be raieed. The Devonport Boreugh Council had unanimously arrived at its decision, and he believed that if it were put to the ratepayers that the latter would confirm the council's action. The acting Town Clerk (Mr. J. Melling) said that the local bodies could borrow such moneys as vre required. Mr. H. Oakley Browne said the Government was relying upon the local bodies to avail themselves of the special lejri-slation. It wae decided to communicate with the local bodies who had not raised money, pointing out the .-pecial powers that they had under the Act. The New Lynn Town Board notified that they proposed to raise £1,800 to carry out work in their district. It was decided "to thank both local bodies. Report by City Missioner. The city missioner (the Rev. Jasper Galder) reported that since the last meeting he had distributed 102 parcels of clothing and boots, 21 pairs of blankets, 48 sacks of coal and firewood, half a ton of vegetables, 62 parcels of groceries, provided 00 meals, and paid the fares of 12 men to jobs. Sympathetic Action. A donation of £2 was received from the staff of the Labour Department, with a request that it should be used for necessitous cases, coupled with the hope that other departments of the Public Service in Auckland would take similar action.

The Mayor said that it showed that the staff of the Department knew that there were many genuine cases of distress. A special vote of thanks was recorded, and the amount was handed over to the Rev Calder for distribtuion. It was reported to the committee that there were 621 A class men and 188 B class men on the official list of unemployed. Since the last meeting employment had been procured for 29, and that in all work had been found for 321 since the committee began operations. The question of men coming to Auckland in connection with pending public works, or leaving jobs in the country to come to the city was touched upon, and the committee unanimously expressed the opinion that the present list of unemployed should be dealt with first.