CITY RELIEF WORKS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 10

CITY RELIEF WORKS

GOVERNMENT’S PROFFERED SUBSIDY NOT LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED Although a deputation of Wellington members of Parliament were told by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) on Saturday, that the Government would make £2OOO available as a subsidy on unemployed relief works in Wellington, it seems unlikely that the offer will be accepted on these conditions. The acceptance of the £2OOO would mean that the City Council would have to raise a loan for a similar sum, which the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said yesterday would be impossible. The Mayor called on the Prime Minister yesterday morning, with regard to the £2OOO that he had been advised by Wellington members of Parliament was to be available for unemployment works immediately. The Prime Minister Informed Mr. Troup that the £2OOO was by way of a subsidy on any similar sum that the council might provide. The Mayor pointed out that the only way by which he could obtain the £2OOO was by loan, and that, as the council had made provision during the past month for a loan of £lO,OOO with which to construct the airport at Lyall Bay, that would be quite impossible.

“I do not feel called upon to ask the council to raise a further amount, in addition to this sum for the airport,” said Mr. Troup, after his interview with the Prime Minister. “This year,” be added, “£35,000 has been raised for unemployment works, which is already more than has been raised by any of the other four centres.”