RAISING THE WIND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 8

RAISING THE WIND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — It is well known that athletic bodies when they take a matter in hand ■do sp as heartily as they enjoy sport. The City Council has lately done a good, deal for those bodies, more particularly the cricketers and footballers. In raising the wind, it is all important to do ,£O with as little expense as possible", and there are many persons who, quite willing to subscribe a small amount, not being able to give more, yet do not do €O, as they feel shy of seeing their names in punt, alongside those who are in a position to give t-o much more largely, .therefore a considerable amount is . lost. To remedy this, I ask the various football clubs, as it is footbail season, to get up a bevies of ma-tches, some in ianey costume, as the weather makes til* oi dinary one inconspicuous, and of a uniform mud colour, so that the games would b6 a little more attractive, and on each special day a small charge of, say sixpence, should be made for admission. I am sure the thousands who are regular attendants ordinarily, ana' the extra numbers who would be attracted, would not grudge that amount when I- ty know that it is for the purpose of augmenting the fund to help the workless As a rule all members of athletic bodies have constant employment, and the feelings of those who atsist in helping their fellow creatures in dull times, would add extra spirit to the gamea to be played. I sec the professional footballers have just returned — it might be arranged that the first match could be played between them and an ainatem team, and no doubt the professionals .would willingly forego their proportion of the gate, outhide of any special expenses. Many persons would most likeiy pay more than the sixpence for admission, as it would be quite optional. Tho amount ho raised would, I believe, be augmented by a Government grant. I hope to see the football clubs take the above matter in hand. On some big Tr.alch day His Excellency the Governor could be asked to attend, and I feel sure he would do so if convenient. Could not the Wellington Racing Club arrange to give a percentage out of their gate and their tote profits? Every lj; tie helps, and no expense incurred. — I am, etc., RAISING THE WIND. THE POSITION ELSEWHERE. MATTERS IN AUCKLAND MUCH AS THEY WERE. SUGGESTED CLEARING OF BUSH LANDS. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Bth July. Matters remain much as they were in regard 'to the unemployed question. The local Labour Bureau daily receives calls liuni a fair number of men in aeaich of employment. Sfveial of those who are more or less in touch with the finding and arranging of employment for the workless do not regard the situation in Auckland, however, as being so distressful as would appear on the face of things, but consider that the rather exceptionally prosperous times that have been experienced for a long while till lately give the present comparative pinch a complexion that most towns the size of Auckland would accept as being little more than normal for this period of the year. About a score of men were despatched io the Gisborne railway works on Tuesday, and another batch will probably go

South next week. The City Council is putting work in hand that will give temporary work to eighteen or twenty I men. A suggestion sent to the Minister of Labour by Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., was that a solution of the impmployed difficulty might be found in the clearing of areas of bush land in close proximity to Auckland. A dual purpose, it was contended, could be served if this were done, the bettei class of limber being used for milling purposes, while the poorer quality could be sent into the city and sold as cheap winter fuel. This suggestion was forwarded to the Minister and acknowledged,' but nothing further has been done in the matter. IN WANGANUI. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, Bth July. In response to the Borough Council's invitation, sixty-five unemployed hancleJ in their names to-day. The majority will be employed on works which the council has authorised for the purpose. WARM TALK AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Bth July. A meeting of unemployed, convened by the Trades and Labour Council's Unemployed Committee, was cb.iiracf.Grise.l by revolutionary remarks by sonic of the speakers, who are also members of the Socialist Party. One speaker referred to the mob that was incited to pillage the shops of the West End, London, and said that if the Christchurch City Council refused to stir any quicker than it was doing, it was likely to have greater responsibilities in the way of providing policemen and soldiers. There were some present, he added, who came from the Old Land — a number of Scotsmen with a little "blood" in them, as well as a few Yorkshiremen and Lanca»shiremen, and if the "old chums" were not likely to strike, he could assure them that the "new chains" would. (Appiause.) If the men who were starving could not fight for themselves, he was prepared to do a little fighting in order to have their rights asserted. Another speaker said : "If I were in the position of the men out of work I would be looking about for dynamite." The meeting resolved : — "That the Minister for Labour be informed that the position of the unemployed is still acute, and thit, 111 the opinion of this meeting, the authorities have not taken adequate steps to relieve the distress." It was also decided to protest against the City Council's action in using a donation for the relief of the unemployed to benefit the ratepayers by violating the minimum wage piinciple ; also, that the local members of Parliament be asked to vonfer with the unemployed on the question of the introduction of a Right to Work BUI. The Minister for Labour, replying to a suggestion of Mr. Ell, M.r., stated that hf regretted that 'he could not at present give instructions to despatch another party for North Island bushfelling contracts. Of a party of eighteen men for the Midland Railway works fifteen turned up this morning, and left for the works. STREET WORK IN DUNEDIN. [BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] DUNEDIN, This Day. With a view to absorbing more labour, the Mayor has arranged to push on tho work of construction -of Lower High-street from the railway station, in a northerly direction. This work will commence early next week, and will give employment to about a dozen extra men.