AUCKLAND REQUEST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 130, 6 June 1929, Page 12

AUCKLAND REQUEST

THE STATE'S OFFERED MONEY

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, This Day: T^'ging that something should b« done to provide more employment for skilled and unskilled. workers, a big deputation representing thirty-two labour unions waited on the Prime Minister to-day. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., said that unemployment in. Auckland was -worse than for over twenty years. Other speakers stressed the urgency of providing employment for unskilled labourers. Sir Joseph Ward said that as Leader of the Government he was anxious to do all in. his power to help the unemployed. He had already authorised £140,000'0f Government supplementary funds to subsidise work. This was a larger amount than had ever been authorised by a Government in New Zealand Some little time ago he had made" "it ' public that £25,000 was available for the Auckland City Council for a scheme N of new works as a means of relieving local unemployment. That amount wai still available, but no action had been, initiated with a view to taking advantage of the offer. Other centres, such as Wellington and Christchurch, had accepted assistance of that nature. He had authorised amounts for the Norih fehore boroughs. The Government had provided a large amount of relief work both on railway construction ■ and on public works, and there were more than two and a half times as many men so employed in the North Island as in the South Island. They were prepared to put 5000 to 6000 extra men on railway works. Sir Joseph again expressed surprise that the City Council had not taken advantage of the offer, and said he would get.into touch with the Mayor and Corporation with a view to seelns what could be done.