UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18431, 11 July 1925, Page 14

UNEMPLOYMENT.

FUND TO BE OPENED.

! BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION'S DECISION. At yesterday's meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Beautifying, Association the question of unemployment in the city and the necessity lor taking action to relievo it was discussed. Mr 11. B. Given said that ho had been approached on several occasions during, the past fortnight regarding unemployment : the other members of the executive had read someting about the subject. »Sonie said that unemployment was very bad: others said that it was not. From what he could gather from the union .secretaries at the Trades Hall they reported that there was quite a. large number of men out of work and that the number was likely to increase in the next two or three weeks. Mr LeadIcy, secretary of the U.S.A., said that the Poppy Day Fund, raised to providework for "unemployed returned soldiers, was nearly exhausted*: ho (Mr Leadiey) also anticipated that tilings would get worse tor returned soldiers out of work during the next two or three weeks — they had exhausted their funds and could not carry on much longer. Ho (Mr Owen) had been asked by men out of work if the River Improvement Committee could not start an unemployment fund as was done in 1922. He had seen Mr F. Langhein, District Engineer, Public Works Department, and discussed with him the possibility of the Government assisting. He had also seen the Mayor, who had told him that the question of a grant of £-500 would be a matter for the Finance Committee to consider and that nothing could be done for n, few days. -Mr Archer had promised to lookinto the matter. If tho Government and the City Council each made a- grant of £SOO, there was no reason why they should nob raise £IOOO in public subscriptions. The work to bo undertaken would be in different parts of the city. Assistance could be given tho Hcathcote County Council in respect of tho reserve between Barrington street and the foot of Hackthorne road: work could lie done at Woolston alongside the river; they had offers of assistance from residents about Holmore'a road for the planting of the bank in tho domain, and also applications front tho residents of AVroxton for the beautification of tho liver banks. The .River Improvement Fund' was in debit to nearly £IOO. He wished to know if tho Association would be agreeable to open an unemployment fund. The Association being the parent orgauisa- I tion, it was not desired to overlap in anyway. The money raised would be expended in the beautifying of the citv. Replying to Dr. C. Chilton, Mr Owen said that he did not suggest that the Association should mako a. grant to the fund .- it could assist by gh.ng srubs for planting. Tho chairman (Mr A. Dudley Dobson) referred to the widening of 'that portion of Dyer's Pass road, just past Victoria Park, round the first rocky corner. There was about one niilo to bo widened, and ho suggested that the Government might be asked to assist in this work. Mr Owen moved: "That the Beautifying Association is prepared to take, up the work of organising an appeal for funds for the unemployed, and provided the Government and the City Council each made a grant of £SOO, would endeavour to raise £IOOO by public subscriptions.*' In addition to the works he had already referred to Mr Owen said that it might be possible to put in hand the new Puverside Walk from Tiolleston avenue through the Botanic Gardens and the Hospital grounds to the Bandsmen's Memorial. He also suggested that they could undertake to do some planting work at the Northeote Settlement—ifc was looking ryery derelict. The motion was agreed to, and the secretary (Mr G. L. Donaldson) was instructed to communicate with tho Government and the City Council on the subject.

Mr Owen telegraphed on Thursday to Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., who referred in the House on Wednesday to the unemployment position in Christehurch, as follows: "Unemployment becoming acute. S u ££ es t re-starting River Improvement Unemployment i'und. Interviewed Mayor and also Resident Engineer, Public Works, to-day. Suggest City Council .and Government grant subsidy of £SOO each. Would endeavour to raise £IOOO additional, which should meet situation this winter/" Yesterday Mr Armstrong replied: "Have referred your suggestion to the Prime Minister, who has agreed to bring matter before Cabinet as soon as possible. Will do all in my power to hurry it along."

CABINET CONSIDERATION. (special to "toe pkess.") WELLINGTON, July 10. In the Houso to-day Mr H. T. Armstrong asked tho Prime. Minister if the Government would take iuto serious consideration tho proposal made by the, Christehurch Beautifying Association in regard to relieving unemployment. It was, ho said, proposed that the Government should contribute £SOO and the City Council £SOO, if the Association gave £IOOO. The Hon. J. G. Coates said he would like some further particulars. He would then place tho matter before Cabinet and let tho hon. member know the result.