UNEMPLOYMENT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT

MEETING OF LOCAL COMMITTEE

STOPPAGE OF WOEK ON WHARVES

The effect of stoppages of work on the Lyttelton wharves on the efforts being made to find work for the unemployed, and also on the appeals made to relieve distress amongst the. unemployed, led to a discussion at the meeting of the Christchurch Unemployment Committee yesterday morning as to what steps, if any, could be taken to allow men out of work to do the work on the wharves. It was decided to write to the Minister for Labour (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) on the subject. The meeting was attended by Crs. E. H. Andrews. J. S. Barnett, Messrs George Harper, V/. W. Scarfl, A. Peverill, W. E. Leadley, J. W. Crampton, W. J. Walter, F. W. J. Belton, R. T. Bailey, the Rev. F. T. Read, Mrs A. I. Fraer, and Mr L. N. Hitchens (honorary secretary). Work on Wharves Mr Peverill referred to the holding up of ships by waterside workers refusing to work them, mentioning the instances where a cargo of Newcastle coal was taken back to Sydney, and where a cargo of fruit was not unloaded. He said that such actions made difficult the work of those trying to assist the unemployed. Persons approached and asked to assistreplied by stating that their business was hampered, and they suffered loss, because of the rictions of the waterside workers. Generally, public sympathy was alienated. He asked if there were any steps that could be taken to stop such actions, Mr Crampton said that there were plenty of genuine workers amongst the unemployed who should be given a chance to work when the waterside workers refused. It seemed to him thar the refusal to work was the action of a few fanatics.

Mr Scarf! generally supported Mr Feverill's views and remarked that it seemed to him that there were more "mad heads" in Christchurch than in any other town in New Zealand. The chairman said that the position was quite illogical. The men were slowing down the wheels of industry. Mr Crampton: Cannot we overcome the difficulty? Have we not sufficient weight to put men to work who are willing to work? The chairman: I suppose there is preference to unionists. Mr Crampton: There should be preference to workers. Unionism is all right, but when it interferes with a man's willingness to work it is all wrong. Mr Peverill moved: "That this committee recommends that some action be taken by the Minister for Labour tc have matters rectified so that men willing to work may carry on the work." Mr Crampton seconded. Mr Walter suggested writing to the union to ascertain the reason for the refusal to work. Mr Leadley said that they had no first-hand knowledge, and it was always dangerous to jump to conclusions after hearing only one side of the question. Mr Belton said that if they wrote to the union they would only get one side of the question. An amendment, proposing that the union and the shipping agents should be written to and asked to supply the j facts, was rejected, and the; motion, proposing to write to the Minister, was agreed to. I

Lees Valley Rcatl Describing it as her "hardy old annua!," Mrs Fraer brought up the question of access to the soldiers' settlement at Lees Valley. She said that she had just returned from motoring 800 miles in the North Island; some of the worst roads in the North Island were gone over, but there was none that compared with the Lees Valiev road. In accordance with a promise made, Mr F. Langbein, District Engineer, Public Works Department, had had the surface of the road improved, but nothing had been done to widen it. There were one or two new members on the Oxford County Council, and she thought that it might be possible to get the council to do something. Mr Lansbein had told her j that there was not much chance of getting men to go into a carnp, but she had information to the contrary. The settlers had lost the good wool market because there was not proper means of access to and egress from the valley. She moved: "That the Oxford County Council be again approached on the subject." The chairman referred to tli:? recent conference between the ounty council and the members of the Main Highways Board at which the county chairman had stated definitely that he was opposed to interfering with the bother of the cuttings, except, possibly, to widen corners. It had been stated also that there were only 17 soldiers concerned, but it seemed to him (the speaker) that they had every right to be served. He had been over the road and his feeling v/as that they should concentrate in getting a bridge for the settlers, whose wool had been held up because the river was impassable, and because of a slip on the road. Mr Leadley agreed that the bridge was the vital thing. He did not think that it would be much use approaching the county council. They should go direct to the Minister for Public Works and ask him to receive a deputation from the committee the next time he was in Christchurch, and, if possible, they should try to get him to have a look at the road himself. He moved in the direction indicated. Mr Read seconded. The chairman: The Hon. J. Bitchener is a very approachable man, and if we got him to see the road it is possible that something might be done. The motion was agreed to, and the Rev. F. T. Read, Mrs Fraer, and Messrs Andrews and Leadley were appointed the deputation to wait on the Minister.

Belief Measures Mr Harper reported that in the last fortnight 1434 families were supplied with rations, representing between 4000 and 5000 persons. He anticipated that at a meeting that afternoon plans would be completed for the new scheme for the distribution of relief. The central depot would continue some of its activities, amongst them the provision for medical relief and for legal advice. The report was received. Work at Schools The Minister for Education, the Hon. R. Masters, acknowledged the letter from the committee forwarding copies of correspondence between the Unemployment Board and the committee relative to the use of relief workers at schools. The Minister wrote that he would be very pleased to discuss with the Minister for Employment the employment of workers under the No. 5 scheme, where new developmental works were being undertaken. Ordinary maintenance work on school grounds, even that which had been carried on by working bees, was somewhat different from developmental Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr C. G. Godfrey) wrote that the committee's letter on the same subject had been carefully reconsidered and it was regretted that the use of relief labour could not be authorised for maintenance work at schools. Reference' was made by to the information recently received b" the Education Board on the subject, which was considered satisfactoThe letters were received.

A Case of Hardship Mr Crampton brought up as an example of hardship under which relief workers suffered the case of a relief worker whose son had reached the age of 16, and who, in accordance with the Unemployment's Board regulations, had his allocation of work reduced. The son was unemployed, and still was being maintained by his father, whose allocation of work had been reduced by one half day. Mr Bailey said that the case referred to was not an isolated one. The matter was one dealt with by regulation. On Mr Bailey's suggestion it was : decided to discuss the matter further when the meeting went into commit- ; tee. On resuming in open meeting, after hearing Mr Bailey's report in committee, it was reported that it had been decided to write to the Unem- , ployment Board suggesting that when children of relief workers reached the age of 16 and were continuing their 1 education, the relief workers should i not have their allocation of work re- . duced. 1 River Trust Congratulated On the motion of Mr Leadley, seconded by Mrs Fraer, it was decided 1 to congratulate the Waimakariri River Trust on the success of its negotiations with the Unemployment Board ■ whereby 100 men will be removed from the No. 5 scheme and given full time employment at standard rates of pay, and to recommend other local bodies to take similar action. The chairman remarked that he ; thought that the action of the trust was the outcome of the circular let- : ter sent out by the committee on the i subject of permanent work being found by local bodies. The works committee of the Christchurch City Council had taken up the matter en- . thusiastically, and had approached the . Unemployment Board, and suggested . that it should subsidise loan works *o . that more men could be found work. RELIZF DEPOT t CRITICISM OF DIRECTOR i J ASSOCIATION EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE : A reply to charges that he had shown favouritism in his administration of the central relief depot was made by the director of the depot (Mr T. Cape- ! Williamson; at the meeting of the full committee of the Metropolitan Relief Association yesterday. The com- '. mittec passed a resolution of confidence in his administration. ; "Mr Cape-Williamson feels his position rather acutely," said the chairman (Mr George Harper), "owing to criticism which has been expressed in more or less confidential letters to various persons. In addition, remarks have been made by various persons suggesting that he has been showing favouritism." A slight enquiry had been held, said Mr Harper, but he was not saying anything about that. It was for the members of the committee to say whether Mr Cape-Williamson's administration was good, bad, or indifferent, and whether it should be curtailed or assisted. He should be given an opportunity of replying to these charges of favouritism and other failings. "We have been working together now, most of us, for three years," said Mr Harper. "We wish to go on in peace, as a happy family. It is not pleasant to have these rumours, this pin-pricking—if it is so, it may be otherwise." Mr Cape-Williamson had worked voluntarily and well to attain the object the association had in view —the provision of food for those in distress. On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided that Major G. Dry, Mr F. W. f J Bellon, and Mrs E. Edmonds should !be appointed a committee to co-op- ( erate with Mr Cape-Williamson in the administration of the central relief depot. Mr Cape-Williamson then made his statement, which was heard in committee. A motion of confidence in Mr CaneWilliamson's administration was carried unanimously. RELIEF OF DISTRESS PUBLICITY FOR PROGRESS LEAGUE'S CAMPAIGN Managers of advertising businesses and of the advertising departments of newspapers in Christchurch met yesterday on the invitation of the publicity committee of the Canterbury 1 Advertising Club to elect a sub-com-mittee to arrange publicity for (he Canterbury League's cam- ! paign in support of the Mayor's Reiiicf of Distress Fund. The following I sub-cornmilteo was elected: —Messrs IW. J. Smythc. A. B. Edwardes, R. } Thurlow Thompson, H. R. T. Spanjer, jF. H. Walls. K. G. Kearney, A. R. | Wood. J. A. Jewell, and J. J. Staples. ! It was decided to notify the general committee of the Progress League I that the. publicity committee would | be prepared to submit a plan of enm- | paign as ~oon as the general committee had t'orwyrded an announcement oi' its plans for submission to the public. COMMUNITY SINGING It is intended to revive community singing gatherings in the Civic Theatre shortly, the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) stated yesterday, provided he could secure the invaluable co-operation again of some energetic and public-spirited workers as Mr Alan Brown and Dr. F. C. A'Court. He was convinced that the community singing gatherings, under these leaders, not only provided valued funds for the relief of distress, but also gave good entertainment to hundreds of citizens. The Civic Theatre will be available at the conclusion of the competitions. • SUSTENANCE SCHEME NOT WELCOMED irr.tss ASjoeutiov Td.garu.v.) PALMERSTON N., April 22. The decision of the Unemployment Board to place 120 Palmerston North relief workers on one week of sustenance out of four, was not approved by the city council to-night. A protest will be made to the board, and an indignation meeting is being organised by business men for Thursday. The council is unable to understand the need for sustenance when the board is handling more money and the registered unemployed are fewer.