WORKLESS WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 256, 13 July 1926, Page 12

WORKLESS WORKERS

MEN SLEEPING IN SHEDS BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Dunedin, July 12. There are 248 men on the unemployed register, and 19 of those who registered to-day are married. 'There is reported to be much distress among seamen, eight of whom are sleeping at the gasworks and five others in wharf sheds. One party of fourteen has been occupying a small hut at Waverley, living on potatoes taken from the fields. They had no blankets or table utensils. The. Salvation Army reported to a meeting todav that it could provide sleeping quarters for men, but in the event of this being insufficient the Harbour Board may provide straw for bedding in the sheds. . The wharf labourers’ position is also reported to be critical, as the best men are earning less than 30s a week. DISTRESS IN AUCKLAND MORE EXTENSIVE RELIEF WORKS ADVOCATED. "Dominion” Special. Auckland, July 12. Striking evidence of the seriousness of the unemployed situation in Auckland is afforded by the fact that during the past few weeks the Auckland Hospital Board has been distributing relief to an average of 500 cases a week, due solely to lack of employment. In these cases no fewer than 1100 dependants are concerned. T he board was made the medium for the distribution of relief to necessitous cases when, at the instance of the Premier, the unemployed relief committee was set up early last month. The Government has undertaken to recoup the board for anv expenditure incurred by its relief department due to unemployment and this department now handles all cases ot distress sent forward by the comniittee and by recognised social organisations. Under normal circumstances between £4OO and £5OO is expended each week in relieving distress. No cash is given to applicants, all assistance being rendered by means of orders for meat, groceries, firing, etc. To assist single men the board is making use of the Salvation Army’s men’s home. Orders are given to. men which will enable them to obtain a bed and two meals a day. “You will see from this that we do not encourage men to remain idle,” said the chairman of the board, Mr. W. Wallace. The opinion that no appreciable difference in the situation would be experienced until relief wonts capable of absorbing the labour of 500 or more men were started was expressed by Mr. Wallace. RELIEF WORKS WILL ABSORB IDLE MEN. BY Telegraph—-Press association. Invercargill, July 12. The unemployment situation remains much the same as last week. It is expected, however, that with the opening-up of Corporation relief works all the idle men will be employed.