UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19212, 19 January 1928, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT.

DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF. LATEST REGISTRATIONS. At a conference held yesterday it was decided that a deputation should wait on the Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Board to-day and discuss the questions of a depot and ox the distribution of relief. The conference was attended by the Mayor the Deputy-Mayor, Councillor G. E. Hunter, Mr A. E. Galbraith (Citv Engineer), Mr E. T. Bailey (officer hi charge of. the Labour Department's office), and Messrs A. F. Drayton, J. \Y Ecanland, H. Worrall, and ,T. S Barfett (members of the Citizens' Committee).

The present position of relief funds was revealed. For food and re 1 ;?! there is in hand £lO2 is sd, including a small balance from last rear, and for work £341 ISs 4d, total £444 os 9d. These amounts were insufficient for more than temporary relief.

The first consideration of the meeting was not whether the Unemployment Committee-was to be revived, but' what was to be done with Ihe money subscribed for meals and elothhig. A deputation was appointed to discuss the whole question with the Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Board. In the meantime, the work of supplvin" meals remains in the hands of * the Labour Bureaj.

It was discovered on Tuesday that a number of men who had refused to work for their rations from the Hospital Board had transferred their registrations t.o the Labour Department. The issue of orders for food was immediately stopped until the men wero located. "If this sort of thing goes on," commented Cr. Sullivan, "our funds won't last at all."

Yesterday's Registrations. At the Employment Branch of the Labour Department 15 men (11 married) registered. In private employment three men were placed, 10 on public works, and 12 on City Council works. Provisions received at the Labour Bureau yesterday included two cases of fish, a case of potatoes, -10 loaves of bread, a sack of vegetables, nine parted of meat, and a box of scones. The loaves represented a cash donation by Mr Kamsav.

In addition to the permanent staff, there are no\v%o4 men on the pay-list of the Christchurcli City Council. On unemployment loan works 41 men arc engaged, there are 45 casuals, and 118 men are employed on the water supply extension, the major operations of which are now in Papanui.

The Churches' Help. Tiie sum of fill 19s has been received from retiring collections at churches, made up as follows: —Union Methodist £3 8s 6d, Colombo street Baptist £i 3s 9d, Addington Catholic Chureh £l2 Is, New Brighton and Dallington Catholic Churches £6 3s 3d, Catholic Cathedral £45 16b 6d, St. Mary's, Manchester street, £4O Gs.