UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20413, 7 December 1931, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT.

I : . I DEPUTATION WAITS ON j MINISTER. REDUCED FOOD RATIONS. (TRESS ASSOCIATION TIUGBAM.) WELLINGTON, December 5. "This means acute starvation, not semi-starvation, for hundreds oi fami- , lies in Wellington," Mr P. Fraser, M.P., in leading a deputation of Labour M.P.'s to the Minister for Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) this morning about the decision of the Wei-, lington Hospital Board to reduce food rations to unemployed relief workers to full rations in the off week, half rations in the following week, and no rations during the two remaining weeks in the month. The matter of house rents came under review also, and the Minister expressed surprise at the high rents landlords were demanding for houses of a poor type into which many families were reported to be crowding in order to live more . cheaply. Sympathy was not enough, the Minister said, and he promised to help. With regard to 'the hospital's position the Minister said that it would be entitled to consideration under the recent legislation providing, for £75,000 to be allocated to boards. The Minister promised to consult his colleagues and get into touch immediately with the hospital authorities "to see what measures could be taken, for relief. He said that he would do his best to co-operate with those in the city who were working to relieve distress and nothing, would be wanting on his part to assist in helping the poor. • RELIEF PROVISIONS. PROTEST AT WELLINGTON. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TILEG?AU.) WELLINGTON. December »■ A general protest against the provisions for relief of unemployment was made bv a small section of unemployed to-day. They made representations to the Labour Bureau, but were informed that the Uneroployijient Committee had drawn up certain rules. When two men tried to make addresses on the premises of the Defence Department the police stepped in and pulled the speakers down. A I few warm words were exchanged, but | nothing untoward occurred.