HELPING THEMSELVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 9

HELPING THEMSELVES.

MOUNT EDEN UNEMPLOYED. PRAISEWORTHY EFFORT. PILLING THE WOOD BOX. The unemployed out Mount Eden way do not sit down and expect things to be brought to them. In Dominion Koad they have set up a sort of depot, or registry office, where people go if they want a man for a job. Whenever a billet is waiting a notice is put in the window, and the place has become a recognised spot where the state of the labour market can be learned at a glance. Small articles are sold in the shop, and altogether the people running it set an example of self-help that has had a very good effect in the borough. As a further instance of the good spirit prevailing among the unemployed, the Mayor, Mr. Thomas McNab, tells of the following incident. The other day men out of work went to him 'and explained that several families were quite out of firewood and were feeling the cold weather. Mr. McNab took the deputation up Mount Eden, pointed out several old pine trees that wanted reI moving, and told the men that if they would cut them down they, could have them. The men formed a "lumber o-ang," cut the trees down, sawed and split them into firewood, arranged for lorries, and went round delivering the wood to the families that were in the most want. "The part that particularly pleased me," said Mr. McNab, "was that the men not only cleaned up the branches of the felled trees, but they cleared up the roufh undergrowth, and left that part of the reserve much neater than they found it. I think such an instance of self-help is deserving of all commendation." ...