RELIEF URGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 289, 7 December 1931, Page 8

RELIEF URGED.

WHANGAREI UNEMPLOYMENT. DEPUTATION TO MEMBER. MOST -SERIOUS- SITUATION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGABEI, this day. A deputation of unemployed workers waited upon the member for Marsden on Saturday, asking that 'steps'"betaken to provide more relief. for the workless in this district. The deputation was supported -by Messrs. T. Mitchell and H. W. Crawford, of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. A. J. Magee, president of the district council of the Alliance of Labour. Mr. A, J. Brown pointed out that at present men with two children got £2 IG/3 a month, with three to four children £3 15/, and with five children £7' 10/ a month. A man with three children paying 15/ a week for rent was faced with a 3/9 deficiency—an intolerable position. He protested strongly against war pensioners being penalised by reduction of the work available under the unemployment scheme, holding that the pensions had been -well earned and should not be touched. Fully 90 per cent of Whangarei's unemployed were not able to pay rent, and many evictions were anticipated. ■ -] Mr. Magee believed the Government : had funds with which to meet' the' situation if it would apply them. • ■.. Mr. AG. Langdon said that as the number of unemployed was reported to have decreased, the board should have more funds available, .whereas the allocation had been cut down. - Messrs. Mitchell, Crawford, and H. G. Hemphill urged that increased production alone would solve the problem. Tt was suggested that Public Works huts, vacant at present, should be made available for workmen on Nos. 4 and 5 schemes. . ; > • - . Mr. Hopper, of the Labour Department, said the number of unemployed in Whangarei was approximately the same as previously, but the allocation was less. ■ ,- Mr. Murdoch said that he was leaving for Wellington on' Mondav, and would do hi? utmost with the Unemployment Board to secure further relief, v