UNITED EFFORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 12

UNITED EFFORT.

CITIZENS' COMMITTEE FORMED. riRST SCHEME AT EPSOM. PLAYING FIELDS APPEAL. With the dual purpose of raising funds for the relief of unemployment and putting men to work on suitable schemes in Auckland, a citizens' effort was definitely launched yesterday afternoon. The Mayor, Mr. George Baildon. convened a meeting at the town Hall of the chairmen of the various City Council omnniittees, and also twelve representative citizens. The Mayor said that the City Council ■was doing nil possible to relieve the position. Work was in progress near the War Memorial Museum, estimated to cost £7(100, also at Point Chevalier; but the unemployment problem still existed and was very acute. It had been said that, the position had never been as fond as it was now. "I know different from that," the Mayor continued. "In the late 'eighties conditions were such that it was impossible- to rent a 'house; but the situation to-day is quite bad enough to call for a citizens' effort." No Charitable Relief. Tho object of setting up a committee, he explained, was to assist the council In the collection of funds, and also in their disbursement. It appeared desirable- that all tho money collected should bo spent in the employment of labour and should not bo given out in charitable relief. (Hear, hear.) If married men and those with dependents were given work, the various organisations that were handing out charitable relief would have less calls upon their funds. In Epsom, continued the Mayor, was an area, which was an undeveloped reserve of the city council—a rough, stony piece of ground, offering a splendid site for playing fields, if developed. The necessary expenditure would be almost wholly in labc ir, and work could be put in hand next Monday, or as eoon as desired. Mr. E. J. Phe'lan &aid that it would be necessary to provide work for at least 500 men, if the position in Auckland were to be definitely relieved. The scheme- mentioned should be regarded as one of several, to be carried out on tho same lines as existing works for the relief of unemployment. Not more than seventy men, he suggested, could be employed on the Epsom area. Mr. W. E. Bush (city engineer): That would be the maximum. "There is not sufficient money to provide work for 500 men," said the Mayor. Mr. Phelan: That is the unfortunate part, but I believe the money will come in. Let us do some work that will provide relief and be a benefit to the city as well. The Mayor: I mentioned the Epeom scheme because it could be started at once. Domain Should be Terraced. "This city ia very short of playing fields," said Mr. H. Horton. "There is an area that requires developing much closer at hand." Mr. Horton then proposed a scheme for terracing the waste slope of the Auckland Domain, above the Auckland bowling greens. The area, having been neglected and undeveloped for many years, now offered a fine opportunity for providing football and cricket grounds near the heart of the city. The City engineer said that the grade was a steep one, being 1 in 10, and Mr. A. J. Entrican said there was always the danger of the country slipping. Mr. A. S. Bankart suggested that employment might be given to a number of men in extending the museum road to George Street and Hill Street. He considered that the success of an appeal on behalf of the unemployed would depend upon adopting some scheme which would commend itself to the imagination of citizens. He suggested also forming a road to the top of One Tree Hill. A committee was set up as follows: The Mayor, Mies E. Melville, Messrs. J. A. C. Allum, F. W. Brinsden, J. Dempeey, A. J. Entrican, J. B. Paterson, E. J. Phelan, J. Davis (members of the City Council), A. S. Bankart, A. Court, H. Frost, W. J. Holdsworth, H. Horton, A. d. Lunn, It. B. Lusk, H. R. Mackenzie, L. Marks, O. Nicholson, A. Spencer, and Q. H. Wilson. Mide Melville said the relief work should be limited to the Auckland metropolitan area, and there should be no opportunity for a drift to the city as soon as it' was known the schemes were launched. The Mayor did not consider that the number of men attracted from outside would be very great. It was decided, on hid" motion, to pay 12/ a day to married men and 9/ to single men. It was also decided to go on with the Epsom scheme, immediately. Finance and works committees were set up to consider plans and report to the whole committee next Friday. Mr. Entrican suggested that October 23 should be made a day of a special appeal in the churches for unemployment relief. The proposal was referred to the finance committee. Mr. J. S. Brigham, town, clerk, was Appointed secretary and treasurer of the committee. Citizens' Fund. The citizens' fund launched by the Mayor early in the week is being augmented rapidly, and the total amount now in hand is £912 9/6. Additional contributions are as follows.— William WVlUce 5 2 2 2 I 8 °o Frater Bros. . y 6 0 0 J\U 8 0 0 10 0 TOtal ' <»12 9 6 "StarV Appeal. Results equally m-atifvit... v tended the « Star's •*?£&* &?, at " tione to the fund areTunde™!- ona ' # ck ce'c D n *» ° * Mrs. Selwyn Upton 1;;;' 5J> 0 0 B. Anderson • ™ 0 © A B. Brett ' *» 0 0 Auckland " Star," Flret inetal- *"» ° 0 ment 1H . Auckland "Star" prevlouely * ° « and 3. Hoblnson Bros, and ° •J&7**£;!: :::::: *" 8 \ * o t no ".:-- ;::;::;;:::::::::: \ o % jA.B. :::: \ • o work*' .-::::::::::::::::: \% % iSS-u^^rr... :::::::::: S* \ M B i, nightingale 10 0 Cβ; 10 0 in orp^ui-:::::-.:'.:::: x \ % fVc. •••.— :::::::::::: E °, 0.8. W. •••;; a 9 WD ' Total ..- **»" •