UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20342, 15 September 1931, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT.

PROPOSED ROAD WORKS. 131P0RTATI0N OF RUSSIAN GOODS. Tho lact lhat the Christchureh Returned Soldiers' Association has €SOO available to subsidise labour for work on which unemployed returned soldiers could be employed was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Christchureh Unemployment Committee by Mr T. L, Druuimond. He said that anyone who was prepared to subsidise £ for £ cn labour for desirable work could obtain a grant from the Returned Soldiers' Association. Cr. J. W. Beanland said that he would apply for £.IOO for tho City Council 011 the terms mentioned. Road Works. In reply to a resolution arrived at by tho committee at the previous Monday's meeting, Mr F. Langbein, District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote that work on tho Leoa Valley road would be considered in the event of further relief works for siugla men on highways being undertaken. After discussion in committee it was decided to write to the Unemployment Board urging it to go into the question of the completion of the Lewis Pass road with the Public Works Department, as an extension of the camps scheme, and 011 the basis of the Public Works Department providing the camps. Importation of Russian Goods. Tho Prime Minister acknowledged receipt of tho committee's resolution with reference to tho importation of Russian goods into New Zealand and replied that ho had noted the request contained in the resolution and would be glad to boar it in mind for consideration. Messrs L. J. Duflou, Ltd., wrote with regard to tho samo resolution: ''As we are the U.S.S.R. Trade Agents for this Dominion, we are directly affected and have sent to the 'Evening Post' a statement, as per enclosed copy. We are quite satisfied that tho action of interested parties is causing a lot of misunderstanding. Russia and Great 'Britain aro on tho most friendly terms and it seems strange that somo people at this end of the world, who havo 110 direct means of learning the truth, make such ridiculous statements as are prevalent. "In order to enlighten the public, wo have started sending out a series of bulletins, a copy of the first ot' which wc enclose herewith. We shall bo pleased to put you on our mailing list for further numbers if you are interested, so that your committee might obtain information from a reliable source, thereby learning that there arc two sides to every question." Roferring to the offer of copies of the bulletins, Mr G. Lawn said that he took it that the committee would receive them. Cr. Beanland: Not by John Beanland! Mr F. W. J. Belton said that he took it that these bulletins were simply Lf.S.S.E. propaganda. Cr. Beanland: I don't think that this committee has any right to discuss matters of this kind. .The chairman (Cr. E. 11. Andrews): Only as far as it affects unemployment. Cr. Beanland: Only to that extent. The chairman remarked that the terms of the letter were not quite courteous. Mr E. J. Ecroyd thought that the writer of the letter was only anxious to put the truth, and the members of the committee, ought., to lie able to analyse tho statements in tho bulletins. He moved: —That the committee ask to be put on the mailing list. \ _ Mr Lawn: I have much pleasure in seconding. A great deal of nonsense has been talked about Russia —. Cr. Beanland: We are not all Bolsheviks! Mr Lawn: I protest against that statement! Cr., Beanland has no right to make an inference of that kind in connexion with this matter. I am merely supporting Mr Ecroyd's motion. I take it that no one is in a position to state as to whether that material is reasonable, ot otherwise, until he sees it. As reasonable persona it is of interest to all of us. Such an interjection as that by Cr. Beanland is quite uncalled for in the circumstances. Cr. Beanland: I don't care whether; it is. What I said is a fact. Mr W. W. Scarff said that if they were not going to take that class of stuff [tho bulletins], the motion was not in order. _ ■ The chairman said .that the matter had come up simply with regard to the effect of the importation of cheap Russian goods on the unemployment position, and they had asked the Government to take tho initiative in regard to stops to keep such goods out of the Dominion. As far as they had go no they wero perfectly in order. It would be quite in order for the committee to say whether or not they wanted the bulletin. „ . , Tho secretary (Mr J. F. Eamea) read tho letter to the Prime Muustor, accompanying the committee's resolution. Tho letter set out that if the Now Zealand market was flooded with Russian goods the unemployment situation would be accentuated. . Cr. Beanland said that ho might have said something he ought not to have said and said it hurriedly. At the same time he was not going to draw back one word he had said. Ho rcsontod matters of this sort being brought before the committee. They were an unemployment committee, and met not to discuss the pros and of tte Bolshevik movement m this City. i' ie bulletins referred to were propaganda brought forward by those people, and was quite outside the committee s provinco; Primarily the committee s business was to do tho best it could for tho unemployed in .the City, and m 10 Dominion. They had no right to give a lead in a matter that might become more general in this City, by receiving propaganda from Russia. Bv 8 votes to 4 the motion was negatived, and it was decided to receive the letter and allow tho enclosure to lie 011 the table. Country Unemployed. After a discussion in committee, Cr. Fraer moved: "That a letter be sent to tho Aniuri County Council »» vltin S 14 to take definite action in the matter „« looking after tho unemployed in the county, as they wero coming to town;

also, tliat the County Council form an Unemployment Committee." Mr Belton seconded. Mr Scarff said that it did not seem to be fair when everyone else was doing his share, Mr J. W. Crampton said that the matter was a seripus one. The authorities, in the county were literally .pushing men out of the district to the City. There were numbers of men unemployed a,nd nothing was being done for them. There was plenty of work for them in the district. The motion was agreed to. Other Matters. Reporting 011 the Pound Scheme, MiGeorge Harper said that there had been quite a good collection last week, and the people were still willing to give. Mr Scarff mentioned that the Pound Scheme central depot had been offered one half of a seven-acre crop of potatoes. Arising out of a case of, hardship, mentioned by Mr Drummond, it was docided to refer it and similar cases to an Anomalies Sub-Committee consisting of the' chairman (Cr. E. H. Andrews), the secretary (Mr J. P. Eanies), and Mr E. T. Bailey. As the outcome of a discussion in committee, it was decided to write to the Railway Department 011 tho subject of the completion of the work on the north ; side of Hazeldoan road, and the necessity for thinning some of tho plantations along the south line, and also the clearing of gorse. Regarding the committee's resolution asking tlyit single men with dependents bo classed as married men, the Prime Minister replied that he was submitting j tho request to the chairman of the TJnI employment Board in order that it might bo carefully looked into and con- , sidercd. There were present Crs. E. H. AnI drewa (chairman), Annie I. Fracr, J. jW. Beanland and J. S. Barnett, and I Messrs W. W, Scarff, George Harper, P. W. J. Belton, G. Lawn, 11. J. Ecroyd, ! J. W. Crampton, 11. T. Bailey, and J. , F. Eanies (honorary secretary). Mr P. R. Cliinie, a member of tho Unemployment Board, also was present. POUND SCHEME. SUMNER AND KEDCUFFS. A meeting of the , executive committee was held on Saturday evening last, Mr Douglas Smith presiding. It was reported that 30 families had been assisted in lledcliffs, and 42 in Sumuer, and that supplies were getting very low. After a full discussion it was agreed to discontinue tho scheme at tho end of September. Tho last collection to be made in Sumner was arranged for Tuesday, September 29th, and in Eedcliffs on Friday, October 2nd. . >ll4 ji view of this fact it was decided to ask tho subscribers to tho scheme to give as liberally as possible for tho next three weeks so that there may bo a'surplus to carry on the distribution for a few more weeks 11 possible. As there is a small sum oi. money in hand from tho collectors, it was decided that this be placed in a trust fund, to b« used for future cases of urgent distress, and to be administered by a special sub-committeo appointed for tlio purpose. Special mention was made ot tho splendid work that had been done by the collectors and those in charge of the depots at Sunnier and Redcntts, and it was decided to express the thanks of the executive to these persons.