THE UNEMPLOYED

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19213, 20 January 1928, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED

—«.— GIFTS OF FOOD WANTED

LOCAL RELIEF WORKS. Gifts of food are still wanted at the unemployment bureau in Hereford street, particularly tea, butter, sugar, aud potatoes. Yesterday's gifts iucluded two cases of fish, 22 small loaves of bread, four cases of biscuits from Aulsebrook's, Ltd., pots of jam, cakes, and two pounds of butter.

Thirteen married men registered yesterday, and four single men. Private employment was found for two men, and to-day 3S men will be put to work on various jobs on behalf of the City Council.

Some of the cases which come under notice are pathetic. Yesterday morning a caller at the bureau was a "man with a note from a medical man containing a request for an immediate supply of food and coal. It was stated that the man's wife was very ill, and that there were no edibles in the house. Several members of the Citizens' Committee yesterday afternoon waited on the Benevolent Committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board with referonce to the distribution of goods to deserving cases, and the opening of another relief depot, The proceedings were dealt with in committee.

Local Works. The unemployment position has been aggravated to a considerable extent because of the backwardness of harvesting operations, which are expected to commence about a month later than usual. The crops are good, but what is wanted is a spell of hot weather to ripen them off. Unfortunately the various freezing works are not yet working at full pressure, and are not expected to do so until the end of the present month. Jloads recently tar-sealed under the Unemployment Loan include Linwood avenue, from the Avon to ' Worcester street, Armagh street from Madras street to Fitzgerald avenue, and Cambridge tcrraco from Montreal street to Ttolleston avenue. Similar work will shortly be commenced on Strickland street, portion of Somerfteld street, Devon street, and part of Montreal street.

A number of men are also employed in regrading and metalling various roads under the samo scheme. It is anticipated that tho Canal Reserve will be completely metalled within a day or two, also Montreal street. Streets at present being remctalled include Westminster and Strickland streets. Regrading operations are being carried out in Gloucester street, and to-day a commencement will be made to regrade Fitzgerald street.

The reticulation of Papanui in connexion with the high pressure water supply is expected to be completed by the end of next month, as a result of which about 100 men will be out of employment. At present about 120 men are employed on the mains in various parts of Papanui, similar work having been finished at St. Martins and Spreydon, while that at Woolston is on the point of completion.

Lees Valley Drainage. With a view to carryiug out investigations regarding the drainage of about 2500 acres of Crown land at Lees Valley, Mr H. Holland, M.P., and Mr H. H. Holland, a member of the Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Board, will visit that district next week in a hope that work in this connexion can be carried out for the benefit of unemployed. Mr 11. H. Holland, who knows the country well, is certain that it can be drained, and is of tho opinion that as a good deal of it is soft and boggy it will be necessary to use manual labour to do so, machinery being too heavy for the purpose. . Mr H. Holland is desirous of finding work of a productive nature which can be recommended to the Government as a public work. Kecently he visited the public works at Parnassus. .

PROPOSED SWAMP DRAINAGE

Mr H. Holland, M.P., and Mr **• H, Holland, a member of the Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Board, are visiting the Crown lands at Lees Valley next week to investigate the possibility of draining the swamps with a view to finding; suitable employment in the future (°r the unemployed. There is a total of 2000 acres or swamp, which has only been partly drained, and it is said by some or the settlers that the productivity of thesoil would be considerably improved by proper drainage.