UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

A RELIEF POLICY WANTED

PROSPECTS FOR THE WINTER.

A question was asked by Councillor A. L. Monteith at last night's City Council meeting as to whether the Works Committee intended to lay down a definite policy for the relief of unemployment during the coming winter.

The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) said he was not sure that the council would be able to do much this year to relieve distress. Last winter loan moneys were available for expenditure, and the council was able to find work that was very favourable for that class of labour that was idle. This year, however, the relief works would be more restricted, and he was afraid more employment would be available for skilled workers than for unskilled men. The prospects of providing for unskilled labour were not very hopeful. He recognised that something would have to be done, and certain works would be offering. The council might be able to proceed with the "construction of the proposed road from Lyall Bay to Seatoun, provided the owners of affected properties found a certain portion of the money. He anticipated that about £5000 would be expended on that contract. Something might also be done at Raroa road. " I don't think the situation will i>e as bad as last year," he remarked, " but if it is, we shall have to appeal to the Government to come to the rescue."

Councillor Monteith: "We are practically faced with the unemployment trouble now, and unless something is done immediately, the council won't be able to meet the demand for employment when it comes." HELP FOR RETURNED MEN. Councillor G. Mitchell said that the Returned Soldiers' Association had a sum of £59 for the assistance of unemployed returned men, which it was desired to hand over to the Reserves Committee for the relief of distress amongst them. Ho suggested that the council might supplement the money with a £ for £ subsidy. In a few weeks a further sum of £600 or £800 would be available for the relief of "unemployment amongst ex-service men, and it was proposed to offer it to the council on the same terms as it accepted money from the association last year.

Councillor W. J. Thompson said that if the money was handed over, the Director of Parks and Reserves would place the men immediately.

The M:vyor said that the council could not afford a subsidy at the present time, but it might be necessary to raise a loan later on, and it might then be possible to grant a "subsidy. He proposed that the chairmen of the various committees should consider the whole question.

Councillor Mitchell said the association did not wish to hand tho money over unless a subsidy was guaranteed.