CITY WORK AVAILABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 5

CITY WORK AVAILABLE.

MT. EDEN COUNCIL'S VIEW. JOBS FOR MARRIED MEN. CAMP EARNINGS QUESTIONED. A decision to draw the attention of the Commissioner of the Unemployment Board to the fact that there is plenty of reproductive work available in the borough to provide work for unemployed married men, rather than send them into camps, was arrived at following a long discussion at the meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. The matter arose when a letter from the commissioner was read pointing out that the unemployment funds were not for the benefit of local bodies, but for the provision of relief work for the unemployed. Mr. R. J. Mills said it was a shame to send married men to the camps and break up their homes when there was plenty of work which could be carried out in the borough. It cost money to pay the fares of the men to the camps, and at least this expense would be saved if the men were given work in the town, and they would also be living at home. Work could be provided in the Mount Eden borough for 100 or 200 men for 12 months.

Mr. J. J. Mulvihill supported Mr. Mills. "We can take it with a grain of salt that married men get £2 10/ a week in camp," eaid Mr. Mulvihill. "Immediately they are in camp they are placed on contract work, and then- earnings are much less than- £2 10/." Mr. W. H. Nagle said that had it not been for the assistance given by local bodies, the Government would have been crushed. The council had a duty to perform to the married ratepayers of the borough, and would be fully justified in asking that a proportion of fairly fit men be put on reproductive work in the borough. "I want to make it clear that the council had nothing to do with the putting off of men. That was decided by the Labour Department," said Mr. Nagle. Mr. Mills? We have the work, and we should lat the Government know. I don't want to see married men being sent away to camps while there is work here. On the motion of Mr. F. S. Battley, it was decided to bring the matter before the Commissioner of the Unemployment Board.