"CANNOT GO ON."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 10

"CANNOT GO ON."

COST OF RELIEF WORK.

MOUNT ROSKIIX'S DECISION. ANSWER TO DEPUTATION. The Mount Roskill Road Board was asked last night by a deputation to continue to employ as many men as possible on relief work for another fortnight, in addition to its own 250 ratepayers and residents. Speaking for the deputation, which was introduced by Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P. for Roskill, Mr. R. F. Way said that the Labour Department had a certain sum of money to pay the men, but he could not hand it over to anyother local body that might employ them, as it had been allocated to Mount Roskill for that purpose. There were about 500 men wanting relief work and they had many dependents. He asked the board to take the money for relief work in its district, to give the administration officers time to adjust affairs. He admitted that about 100 men previously employed by Mount Roskill had been taken on by other local bodies. The chairman of the board, Mr. C. M. McCullough, said Mount Roskill had always done more in this respect than its fair share. He knew that some of the money allocated to Mount Roskill had been paid over to the City Council and about £200 to Onehunga, for men who had gone there from Mount Roskill. "Gentlemen, we cannot go on any longer; it is impossible," said the chairman. "The whole scheme had now got beyond the resources of the board. The district's own position was very serious. The board must stand by its resolution not to employ any but their own people." It was time that the Unemployment Board got down to that fact, and it should visit Auckland. He had advised the Mayor of Auckland and the Government of the position at Mount Roskill but had not received a reply from the Government. "Even if the money is there Mount Roskill could not carry on even for one week," he said. The board would have to put the position before their ratepayers after March 31 next, and it would not be a pleasant position. For the Unemployment Board to say that the money was in Auckland, but could not bo used except through Mount Roskill, was "rot." If the Unemployment Board would agree to pay all overhead charges and spend the money allocated to Mount Roskill, his board, lie believed, would be willing to let the Department place the men where they liked in Mount Roskill. Mn Way suggested that the board might take the money and give it to the men without their doing any work. Mr. S. Goodall replied that that would be impossible, as the board had to furnish vouchers to the Unemployment Board for all work done and paid for. After hearing Mr. Richards on the subject the board agreed to authorise the chairman to join with Mr. Richards and the deputation to wait upon the Labour Department with a view to a settlement whereby the men could be given work somewhere.