WORK TO CEASE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20412, 5 December 1931, Page 14

WORK TO CEASE.

DOMAINS BOARD'S DECISION. EMPLOYMENT OF NO. 5 SCHEME LABOUR. The decision to cease, employing No. 5 Scheme men in. the parks and gardens was made at the meeting of the Christchurch Domains Board yesterday, and the matter of employment' 'of men sent by the Hospital Board was deferred for consideration. The Curator's report recommended that the empjoyment of No. S Scheme men cease, and also that not more than 20 men a day be employed from the Hospital Board. ' Mr H. Kitson (chairman): This has been brought about mainly by the huge number of men we haye had from the Hospital Board. The season is getting on, and. we could not give men 'useful work. I understand the City Council is prepared to absorb all the men. If there are some who are incapable of doing hard work, perhaps odd jobs may be found for them under the scheme. Mr R. B. Owen said that the Board should take full opportunity of the labour available to-day to clean up the City's parks, and still do essential work. He urged that the matter be reconsidered. Mrs A. I. Fraer: So far as I know the City Council has no chance of absorbing the 1700 men available under the scheme. Mr Kitson: The plain fact is that we have £454 to carry us over for four months. We would have to get new tools. Most of them . now are hopelessly smashed, and about 50 per cent, have disappeared. I think the time hag come for charity to begin at home. We will probably finish with an overdraft for the year of about £7OO, as compared with £197 at the end of last year. The recommendation in regard to the No. 5 Scheme men was adopted, and the matter of the Hospital Board men was left for further consideration by the Curator and Mr Kitson.