RELIEF WORKS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 13

RELIEF WORKS

To Absorb Unemployment SCHEME IN PALMERSTON * 1 Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, June 13. A proposal to spend £3400 on borough works by means of transferring moneys from borough accounts, and by the attendant Government subsidy, was submitted by the mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) at a special meeting to-day of the Borough Council, and was approved as a means of relieving the unemployment situation. Although the proposed expenditure of £650 on the Campbell Street planting area was not generally favoured, the mayor, who had called the meeting for the purpose of submitting his scheme, said it was proposed to spend in labour costs only £2750 on reading reserves in the borough, and £650 on developing Campbell Street reserve. To provide funds for the work £lOOO would be transferred from the electricity account, and £lOO from the general account, to which would be added £5O raised by public subscription. The Government subsidies on those sums would amount to £2250, bringing the total to £3400. The scheme would absorb all the unemployed of Palmerston North for three or four months. Only bona-fide Palmerston residents would be engaged. Councillor W. L. Fitzgerald, as chairman of the reserves committee, seconded the proposal. The scheme, he said, would have a twofold effect, benefiting both unemployed and ratepayers. In addition, fatepayers were not called upon to make any loan expenditure. Councillor M. A. EJiott considered that the council would not be justified in spending £650 on Campbell Street reserve. The reading of reserves he approved of, as the council would receive rates and lighting and gas charges when the sections were built on. The sum of £lOOO which was to be taken from the electricity account should be spread over four years, he considered, as it was not advisable to continually make calls on that account In regard to the replacing of gas mains, some of which gave very poor pressure, any money taken from the electrical account, he said, should be treated as an advance and be repaid. Unemployment would continue, and expenditure should be limited to an absolute necessity. The proposed expenditure on Campbell Street reserve was a waste of money. Councillor A. E. Hansford questioned whether the money to be transferred would carry a Government subsidy if it was to be returned over a period of years. Councillor G. Tremain said it was not necessary to spread the loan over four years, as the electrical account could be assisted in turn from the general account if necessary.

Councillor J. Hodgens, the Labour representative, said he was somewhat disappointed, but he was helpless like the other councillors. He supported the proposal, although he thought it was only a palliative. The motion was carried on a show of bands.