RELIEF WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 8

RELIEF WORKS

VIEWS OF CIVIC LEAGUE.

, The following letter in reference to the system of employing men on relief works has been, forwarded to the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) by the Civic League:— "Your Worship,—Under instruction of my executive I have to present the views of my league with reference to tho corporation'^ system of employing men _in want of work. Whilst heartily approving your action in providing employment for a number of tho unemployed the Civic League regrets that these men are not employed on some of the -very urgent works required in the city and the money, thus spent, made thereby revenue-produc-ing.

, "We would point out that tho city is receiving very little value for the money spent in 1 employing a number of men in cutting gorse on the Town Belt. In our opinion it will cost many times as much to do this work by men unused to it as it would to have ,it done by cr«ntract, and if poorly done it will require to bo done over.'again in a year or two. These men, we think, could be more usefully employed on such work a« the Island Bay tram lino duplication, or other constructive. _ undertaking of a permanent kind, which will benefit the city and be interest-bearing. You will recognise that money spent on work that is revenueproducing, and in a sense reproductive, also stimulates employment in other directions, and is of greater value to all depending on employment. My executive is desirous that this question shall ,bo considerod by your council, and trust that such.will be the case at an early date."