TO PROVIDE WORK

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 62, 10 September 1921, Page 6

TO PROVIDE WORK

THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL

COUNCILLORS DISAPPROVE OP SPECIAL RATE.

The Mayor, Mr. R, A. Wright, M.P., while speaking to a Post representative this morning, referred to yesterday's special meeting of the Oity Council (reported on page 9 of this issue), and gave a summary of the work done ari"d the, decisions reached as to the means to be adopted for the relief of the unemployed. He stated that he had called the councillors together as the position was so serious that he considered that the council should take immediate steps to provide work for the unemployed.': In order that the councillors might have some definite proposal before them, he moved: " That, in view; of the present state of unemployment in the city, this council agrees to »n expenditure not exceeding the sum of £15,000 for the purpose of providing relief works, such works to be submitted to the council by the City Engineer for approval. The sum of £15,000 to be borrowed from , the bank by was of special addition to the oouncil'e present overdraft, upon the understanding that the council will at the next two annual periods pass a special rate of one-eighth of a, penny in the pound upon the1 unimproved value of all rateable property in the oity for the purpose of liquidating such amount." . Apparently, it was clear that, the majority of councillors were opposed to anything in the nature of a speoial levy or speoial rate, and it was then clear thSt there was no alternative but to withdraw the resolution, which was accordingly done. ■ • . . ■

While there could be no objeotton to the resolution which the oounoil adopted, said Mr. Wright, yet it seemed that there were difficulties, to be overcome. For example, there were men to be employed who had had no experience' of the class of work which the council may provide. If they were employed on the works already sanctioned by the: ratepayers on the co-operative contoact principle/ it would still take some time to get the machinery necessary in operation. In the meantime what was to be done? There were certain works, already enumerated, in the city which required little or no preparation, and upon them a certain number of men could be placed almost immediately. "I have no doubt that' the £25,000 will be available," said Mr. Wright, "but the works to which if will have to be applied will not be ready immediately, perhaps not for some weeks. . ■'■'„•■