UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 303, 16 September 1921, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

CIVIC LEAGUE FUND 7/- A DAY FOR SINGLE MEN SUGGESTED A COUNCILLOR THOMPSON’S VIEWS Had the City Council definitely decided upon the wage to be paid to men employed on relief works in the city xvhen the money collected by the Civic League had been handed over? inquired Councillor W. J. Thompson of the Mayor last night. Mr. Thompson, eaid he understood it was proposed to pay 10s. a day to single xrfen and 12s. to married men. He considered that single men who needed relief xvork should not be paid more than 7s. a day if married men were to receive 12s. for the support of themselves and their wives. lie knexv of quite a number of people who intended to contribute, but .-would be reluctant to do so on the misunderstanding that single men were to receix-e 10s. —unless they were returned soldiers and unable to-get xvork in the ordinary xvay. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) said that the money referred to had nothing to do xvith the council. It would be (landed ox-er by the Civic League, and he hardly thought it was tho place of the council to dictate. It seemed to him the council .did not possess any moral right to interfere, and ; that it had better let the question alone. THE .£25,000 CITY LOAN. “Can you give any information about the .£25.000 loan?” Councillor- P. Fraser asked the Mayor. Mr. Wi'ight replied that the council need have no anxiety about that. It would, be “quite all Tight.” Councillor Fraser then asked • whether the Mayor could .give any indication when the city engineer stould be ready to take on men amT proceed with a portion of the work-in the loan schedule. Mr. Wright said he was afraid no definite information could be given yet. This was one of the reasons for which he j)xad been anxious that a fund of greater elasticity than the loan money should be raised from the public in the meantime. He understood, that the works on the loan schedule would reed some attention before they coxfid bestarted. The prospect of having money to go on with so soon had taken the council departments somewhat by sur-px-ise. He had asked that the- matter should bo speeded up so that the council might be able to gq on xvith ihe works as soon as possible. He could say definitely that councillors need have no anxiety about the' loan money. APPEAL TO "LABOUR UNIONS

WORKERS URGED TO HELP WORKLESS MATES. A circular letter, of which the folloxving is a copy, has been addressed by the chairman of the Civic League to the various unions ixx Wellington:— "As yoxx are no doubij axvare, my executive bus entered, xxpon a campaign to raise funds fox- the purpose of employing a number of the mon xvho are now out of employment within the' city. This, of course, is not a solution of the general problem of unemployment, tlxat being a wider political and economic issue. Ours is but an attempt to render temporary assistance to tlxose workers, particularly the men xvith families, xvho are at present out of work and requiring help. You know. ,as xve do, tlxat there are a number in hard circumstances and requiring immediate help. Wtx llax-e asked all who are in work, and who can afford it, to give one day’s pay to "help those xvho are out. Ixx addition we ask all citizens to give what they can afford.

“You will recognise that, , whilst the general question is being discussed, men, women, and children are suffering through the men being without work, and without pay, so our appeal is just a common act of humanity. If we were out ourselves we would like somebody to help us find a job, and that is why my league is acting. My executive would like your union to help ih this undertaking in any way you think best; either by way of a direct contribution from its funds; by taking some lists and securing additions to the funds, or by recommending your to givp what they are able to afford. There ,can 'be no ’taint of charity if the workers who are in work hjelp their mates who are out; and nt the'’same time we make the general appeal to people of any means to do the fair thing by the women and children in subscribing towards the fund to employ Ihe bread-dinners who are out of work. Trusting for the favour of a sympathetic and early reply.” J Favourable Replies. The New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association has replied as follows:— "Dear Sir,—Your circula r letter to/hand of September 13, regarding the helping of the men who are .at present out ot work, and in reply 1 desire to state thllt I will have pleasure in bringing your letter before the Executive Council of this organisation and at the same time recommending them to extend a helping hand in the direction desired by you>.’enguc. "The Executive Council will mecW shortly, when the matter will be fully considered from the point of view of the members, when I will send you n definite reply on the subject.—Yours sincerely, (Signed) H. M'Arley, general secretary.” The employees of all the departments of the C. and A. Odlin Timber and Hardware Co. have written to the Civic League forwarding J3>s 10s. as a donation towards the unemployment fund:—"Whilst recognising that the amount must be placed in your committee’s hands unconditionally,” says the writer, "it was unanimously decided "that a strong recommendation 'be made that married men with children bo given preference on the con struction work.”

REPLY TO LABOUR STATEMENTS Sir,—The reason of the Mayor’s and the Civic League’s appeal is that the unemployed are here now, distress, is here now, and we want to relievo it how. To • dp what has been suggested on behalf of Labour, and apply the call to the whole of New Zealand, would take weeks of organising .and more weeks of collecting. In the meantime, weeks of idleness and. suffering by women and children must take place. Is there any reason why wc should allow 500 men in-our own city to be workless and their families in want 'because other parts of New Zealand arc not making provision for theirs P These unemployed aro working men, mostly with wives and young families to keep. Have they not a claim on we fellow-workers? Charity begins at home, here in Wellington. Let us then sink nil quibbles and'clifferences about methods, the "scope of the appeal, the amount to be given, and all the other little sidetracks and excuses for not giving. The call is to very worker, to Ministers, and members of Parliament, bank directors, managers-or clerks, business owners, business managers, and shop assistants. Our appeal is to all workers by brain or hand, to myself as well as the girl who types these notes, or to the man who toils on the road. The list, of the first contributors, ,anu amounts, shows that the-, appeal has been responded to by all classes, ano the smallest amount is just as gratefully received as the greatest. , Surely the Alliance of Labour is not going to turn down the unfortunate workless ,and leave it to others to be-

friend them in their time of distress. 1 will be glad to speak to the members of any union on this appeal if so desired.

Here are'two letters. This one we delight to receive, xvhich shows the sou J and sympathy of a man: — “Dear Coloxxel -Mitchell, —Unclosed please find my mite towards the unemployment fxxnd (£5). I think I could also find at least three days .at 15s. a day to a man xvho could do a bit of gaxkienlng. Tile xvhole-hearteU manner in which you are throwing yourself into the work or the Citizens’ League Is worthy of all support. With kind, regards.—Yours sincerely.”

This one is of the selfish, let-tlxexn-starve order, from one who probably roars xvith the extremist about the brotherhood of man :-

Colonel Mitehell, M.P.- —Sir, —Re unemployment. Myself and many'others would like to know, before giving, xvho are the unemployed, New Zealanders or immigrants? If it’s immigrants we xvill not gix-e. If Nexv Zealanders, then, xvhy are they out of work? Is it liecause their jobs have been given to immigrants? It so, then let the immigrants provide for the man they have robbed of his bread and butter? To me it shoxvs xrhakkind of people they are, I know I xvould'take no man’s job. Anyway, immigrants have no right here at (present.—l anx. etc., "N.Z." Be they immigrants or not, they are here. They are Britishers, and the same Empire and blood as xve, mostly men who have fought for us. Are they to be left to starve because they have come here in a time of distress? —I am. etc., G, MITCHELL. OBJECT OF THE FUND 13 FOR RESIDENTS OF WELLINGTON Speaking at a meeting in connection with the Unemployment Fund cf the Civic League, Mr. P. C. Watt said that in viexv of some misapprehension which appeared to exist ao to the object of the fund, the league wished to stress thefact that the fund is intended to provide xvork for they residents of Wellington. Every precaution would be taken to prevent qn influx of men to the city. The fund xvas primarily for married men, and until, the mar/ied men had been absor’bed no single men xvould be taken on. Single men with dependants would, of course, >be specially considered. Tha money would bo paid out as xvages for work done, and the city would get the benefit of that work. This should ensure that only genuine cases would receive assistance, since a man must xvork for his wage. - It is hoped to make a start on Mon- ‘ day with 50 men —all special cases. CIVIC LEAGUE^APPEAL ' COLLECTIONS TO DATE. Collections received to date by the Civic League are as under:—

< <r. Clarke; £1 each, Mrs. F., “Weld St..” D. J. Esau, W. E. Redstone. Officers’ Social Club, Department of Health, F. Feist, "Uncle Remus," Misses A. and M. Donald. D. J. Mahar, B. Kean, "Too Much Work.” 15s. each, Andrews, T. A. Goddard. 10s. each, A.M.C., A. R. Hornbloxv, W. Reade, Miss Salmon, R.M. 75., "A Worker.” ss. eacfi, E. Wilson, F. Hill, W.'O. •Tones; Soldier’s Mother, Webb, E.C.HhS.S.. H. A. Moore. 2s. 6d., J. J. Hebley. Total, -fil-W 14s. 9d.

Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Wright ... Anonymous £ s. d. 25 0 0 25 0 0 George Winder 10 0 0 N.Z. Artillery Band 6 7 9 Cole’s Drapery Co. and ployoes cm5 16 0 F. V. Fraser ,k..„. 5 5 0 W. Fraser Short 5 5 0 J. A. Troup 5 0 0 F.W.R 5 o 0 W. Naismith 5 0 0 T. Shailer Weston 5 0 0 •T. Caughlev 5 0 0 E. J. and Dan Carroll .... ........ 5 0 0 Sutton and Lambert and ployces em3 2 6 Dawson find Mandsley .... ........ 2 2 0 Commissioner Hodder 2 2 0 Miss Humbler ■ 2 0 0 M.TJ I. Co. and employees 2 0 0 .£1 Ts. each. A. F. Fauvel I. L. de Chateau, D. M'loren, A. Macintosh,