UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 17

UNEMPLOYMENT.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. The Finance Committee of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee met yesterday. Present: Crs. E. H. Andrews (chairman), Annie I. Fraei, J. W. Beanland, Messrs W. Goss, W. W. Scarff, R. J. Ecroyd, George Harper, John 'Wood, J. F. Eamcs, J. S. Barnett, E. T. Bailey, and P. B. Climie (secretary). An apology was received from Mr J. H. Shaw, Mayor of New Brighton.

A balance-sheet waß submitted. Eeceipts: Balance, April Ist, £l7l 1. s , subscriptions, £1175 16s sd; Canter y Eugby Football Union (for Belief depots) £SB Is; Lady Wigram (Summit road) £SO; Eeturned Soldiers' Associa-] tion (Summit road) £SO; refunds, 8s j lOd; total, £1505 17s sd. Payments: , Grants to Christchurch City Council, ] £500; refunds of wages, paid on account of Hill Top track, clerical assistance re appeal, £l9O lis Hd; grants to St. Albans Relief Pepot, St. Martins Home, and Salvation Army £94 7s each, total, £283 Is; grant to Sydenham depot, £SO; advertising, £2O 18s, stationery, stamps and sundries £-<0 oS J balance on July 19th, £432 -s 7d. bilities: Sydenham Relief Depot, &*>>; advertising, £8 5s 6d; use of blan ce s from Defence Department (not ascertained); coal (?) £3l 10s; stationery t--2s Gd. Since the previous meeting, subscriptions received amounted to £ 303 78 pavments, £094 lis sd; in hand, 2s 7d; accounts for payment, £lO Bs. The statement was received, ami « was decided to add to the _ liabilities the sum of £IOO promised in respect of the hill-top track. Rugby Union's Contribution. The Rugby Football Union forwarded £154 15s lid", representing two-thirds of the net proceeds of charity matches. The Union suggested that of tins amount £SO should be devoted to the Returned Soldiers' Association s Unemployment Relief Fund. On Cr. Beanland's motion it was decided to inform the E.S.A. that the committee had £SO for work for returned soldiers, and ask it to subsidise that amount, the committee undertaking to spend the £IOO, plus Government subsidy, on work on which returned soldiers would bo employed.^ Cr. Fraer mentioned that in addition to the sum above mentioned, the B u gby Union had given £l9 7s to the St. Albans, St. Martins Home, and Sydenham depots.

Government Subsidies. Regarding the payment of Government subsidy the City Treasurer (through the Town Clerk) explained that work is not hold up until subsidy is received from the Government. The work has to be done before the voucher for the subsidy is presented. Application would bo made for subsidies earned as soon as possible. Mr Eames said that the practice was for the City Council to advance the amount of subsidy temporarily. Work In the Boroughs. The Mayor of New Brighton (Mr J. H. Bhaw), in forwarding an apology for absence, wrote that the New Brighton Borough Council could find work for men on the Marine drive. Cr. Boanland said that the money at the committee's disposal could be spent in the City. The work on the Hill Top track was to be put in hand next week. Now Brighton had not subscribed to the committee's funds. It was decided to roply that any money raised in New Brighton for the work mentioned would bo subsidised by the committee up to £SO. The Sumner Borough Council wrote that an endeavour was being made to raiso an unemployment relief loan and if successful it would not be necessary to seek assistance from the committee. There were 30 names on the unemployed list. The Depots. Cr. Fraer reported that no material had come to hand last week, and there were many women anxious to make up garments. She expected to receive some material early this Week. Small parcels of vegetables had been received. Mr Barnett reported having seen the managers Of dairy factories regarding supplies of butter, and the request waH under consideration A gift of 2cwt of oatmeal had been made by one firm, and other milling firms wore considering what assistance they would give. Arrangements had been made with sonio firms regarding supplies of vegetables. The Rev. P. Kevell wrote that applicants last week totalled lfc, as compared With 189 the previous week. Staff-Captain Dry, Salvation Army, wrote thanking the committee for its grant. As the Army was housing up to 134 men nightly, and supplying 350 meals daily, there was recessity for It to have financial assistance. An extra building had boon secured to accommodate the overflow from tfto original building. The Darfleld branch of the Farmers' Union, wrote that it was intended to make "a houso-to-house canvass for produce and to forward the result to the committee.

Unemployment Figures. Mr Bailey gave the latest figures regarding the number of unemployed; the information was given in committee. On resuming, Cr. Fraer that the Reserves Department of the City Council was employing 10 returned soldiers and 20 other unemployed. Cr. Beanland said that the Works Department had 71 men on relief works and also 67 on casual work. In reply to Mr Bailey, it was stated that all the men (employed by the City Council were obtained through the .Labour Department. RELIEF COMMITTEE. [THE f&ESB SpacUl Berrle«.] DUNEDIN, July 21. . A Mayor's Relief Committee has been formed in Dtinedin to deal with cases of distress arising out of unemployment in the city. "We hope to have a complete organisation ready by Wednesday," said the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black). "We have asked representatives of the St. John Ambulancei Trades and Labour Council, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, R.S.A. Men's Mission, Hospital Board, and other bodies to attend on Wednesday morning. . The various bodies administering relief will come together as a Mayor's Relief Committee. It is felt that as the need is so pressing and so extensive, a larger committee is required to deal with the situation. "Our idea is to get all the money and goods we can to relieve distress, added the Mayor. "We want to have the assistance of all the various organisations. The need has grown to such an extent that we need all the help we can possibly get." . • This decision, it may be explained, follows upon a meeting of the Citizens Unemployment Committee held last Thursday night, from which the Mayor and several other prominent citiisens withdrew owing to the tone adopted by one or two of the speakers.

LEVY OPPOSED

(rncsa *.ssociatio* tei-baawi.) NAPIER, July 31. The Hastings Chamber of Commerce to-night resolved in regard to the Uu* employment Bill: "This Chamber reaffirms its judgment that npither a flat rate levy nor a national insurance scheme should be proceeded with, but that tlio establishment of co-operative fundß bo encouraged for each separate group of industries, so that each group may bear its own burden and by 00-operation between unions and employers, everything should bo done to reduce to a minimum fluctuations of employment. Further, this Chamber believes that with aa energetic Board to stimulate industry and co-ordinate the works programmes of the Government, - local bodies, and private employees, a flat rate levy or a, national insurance scheme should prove unnecessary. Above all, this Chamber believes that payment from the National Exchequer for relief to ablebodied men without work is full of danger." LETTER FROM PRIME MINISTER, A resolution was passed by the City Council at its meeting: a fortnight ago protesting against the action of the Government in dismissing Government employees and at last nights meeting of the Council, a letter was received from the Prime Minister (the Hon. G. W. Forbes), statins, that, the question was at present being attention and that the representation contained in the resolution would be borne in mind for consideration. SYDENHAM RELIEF DEPOT. The Sydenham Relief Depot, located the Methodist schoolroom, Brougham street (Mrs S. G. Smith in charge), reports fhat for seven distribution days it has supplied sixty-three applicants, giving out 116 lots or rations and clothing. ' Thanks tire ottered to the following for donations Clothing from Mesdamn# ThursLon, Rintoul, Ashworth, and oilier friends; stores from Mesdpin«s Thurstoh and Rintoul, Messrs Cioft, Sefton Dairy Company, and Coleby, bread from Messrs C. E. Boon and Co., Schumacher, Besley, Gibson, and Jackson; jam from Mesdames Thurston, Adams, McLeod, and Nealo; Cash from Rev. In wood, and anonymous friends. Gifts of clothing and boots would be very welcome. It was reported to the City Council last night that at present 71 men were employed on the various relief works conducted by the municipality, the principal being street widening and formation. .