HELP FOR WORKLESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 12

HELP FOR WORKLESS

DURING WINTER MONTHS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

Various aspects of the, unemploy- ' menti problem were recently discussed Viththe Minister of Employmen tYtho j were put forward, and these the Mmister promised to consider. Ai of the .committee the Kevfj.Bair^d placed'before the Master the following motion carried at the xecent General Assembly :-— "That -Assembly expresses its deep .sympathy with the unemployed in then distress and its admiration of their fortitude. It expresses its sympathy With "the Government also in its unprecedented difficulties and in its^ endeavours to preserve the national honour and to provide for the needs of those ■in misfortune. It authorises the Public Questions Committee to convey to the Minister of Employment the Asaombly's sense of the seriousness 01 . the • situation and to seek conference with the Minister on ways and means of making suitable provision for those in need.. The Assembly pledges itself to co-operate with the Government m the alleviation of distress and exhorts 'members of congregations to bo ready -to sacrifice and to be alert to embrace •the opportunities of service in their respective communities." Mr Baird referred to the hardships which many of the unemployed were suffering. Thoro might be a shortage of money in; New Zealand, he said, but there was no shortage of the necessities of life. Thoy particularly suggested more concentration by the unemtoloyment Board on relief in kind. The Key. F. H. Wilkinson suggested that the Government should purchase meat, butter, cheese, Milk, vegetables, and other foods for distribution to the ■unemployed at wholesale rates. During the winter months work should commence at 9 a.m. At present there was a considerable uncertainty as to the hours to be worked during a week. If the men knew some time ahead what they were going to receive they could plan accordingly. Another suggestion was that clothing should be distributed at wholesale rates. In his-reply, the Minister referred to tha efforts of the Government and the ■Unemployment Board to improve the lot of the unemployed, and outlined steps which had already been taken and which were dealt with in the statement recently issued by the' Prime Minister. deferring to the suggestion that goods should be distributed, the Minister said there were difficulties in the %vay of that being done. Negotiations were being opened with the object of supplying relief workers with blankets during the winter months. He _ would i-.onsider the various points raised by the deputation. '