£13,000 AVAILABLE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 230, 24 June 1932, Page 10

£13,000 AVAILABLE

Unemployed in City UNEXPENDED BALANCE Western Access Loan MAYOR’S WARNING NOTE In response to the request of the Welljigton City Council, it was announced by the Minister of Employment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, yesterday that Cajinet had approved the release for Wellington city unemployment relief purposes, of the balance of £13,000 unexpended from the loan previously author.sed for the Sydney Street cemetery western access road. The Minister said this action would be validated during the next session of Parliament. Prompt attention was given by the Government to the City Council’s re quest that it should be permitted to use this sum of £13,000 for relief purposes. It was stated by the Mayor, Mr. T. C A» Hislop, who headed a deputation to the Minister! some days ago, that the council’s relief funds would shortly run out, and that unless It could receive au thority for the use of this money, which was legally earmarked for other purposes, it would not be able to carry on for the rest of the year. That City Council funds for the relief of unemployment were running low, and by the end of September would be exhausted unless some arrangements not anticipated became possible, was Indicated by the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, when speaking at the official, opening of the Winter Show yesterday afternoon; “If we can get the people to support to a greater extent New Zealand manufactured articles it will help to relieve the ljurden of unemployment that lies like a pall over the community to-day,” said Mr. Hislop. He often wondered, he said, if it was fully appreciated just what a burden the relief of unemployment was. Wellington has expended in this direction well over a quarter of a million pounds in the last five years. “A great proportion of this expenditure,” said Mr, Hislop, “was made possible by Government subsidy, but now we have to carry on in a different way. The State, under what is known as the Number 5 Scheme, pays all the wages—we find the jol?s.' Last year relief of unemployment cost us £45,000. This year, as . thing are now, we'will not have a penny available at the end of September unless some arrangements not anticipated become possible. “I wish to take this opportunity,” continued the Mayor, “to make know the position as it exists. Unless something is done to meet the position there will be -4000 men unprovided for at the end of September. They can still have the same money they are paid to-day for their work by the Government, but they won’t have the work, and we will have 4000 people in Wellington living on what is allowed them by way of sustenance. They will have nothing to do but to think over that and brood.”