SCORES WITHOUT MEALS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 8, 10 July 1922, Page 8

SCORES WITHOUT MEALS

MAYOR APPEALS FOR MORE MONEY '■- "

TO START RELIEF WORKS,

There are scores and scores of families in Wellington who do not know where their next meal is com-

ing from.

This alarming statement was made by the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) when making an appeal for contributions to the Unemployed Fund at the Tramway Band' 9 performance at Newtown Park yesterday afternoon. That thoso present appreciated the significance of the Mayor's appeal wpj, proved by the fact that •;a collection amounting to £14 15s-was taken'up. • ■•. ■ The Mayor expressed gratification at tho action of the Tramways Band in agreeing to play on behalf of the unemployed. On previous occasions the band had assisted deserving objects. With the Wellington Racing Club's promise of a donation of not less than £750, and other moneys subscribed and promised, Mr.' Wright said that a. sum of £1000 was in sight for the relief of distress caused by unemployment. The position, said the Mayor, was serious, not to say critical. .There were about 750 genuine cases of, distress, and,money was still urgently needed :to assist the City Council to relieve the situation. Men were coming to him every day for assistance. They did not want clarity. What they asked for was work. , Of those men there were many who- were unable 'to undertake manual work, straightaway—men whose previous, occupations had been of a clerical nature. Provision had to be made for them —work of a kind that would bo suitable for them as a preliminary to heavier occupations, more of which might be found later on.

: There are now about thirty men employed on the construction of the new road to Khandallah, and the City Council is arranging to start other relief undertakings.