STRONG MEN IN LIGHT WORK

Evening Star, Issue 19273, 11 June 1926, Page 2

STRONG MEN IN LIGHT WORK

THE DISABLED UNEMPLOYED STARVATION PAY TO WOMEN GLEANERS [Special to tub ‘Stak.’] CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. Denouncing employers who give light work to strong, able-bodied men while less robust.or partly disabled, men walk about idle, a social worker to-day declared that much of tho distress in the city existed because big, healthy men were lidding down the jobs that should be given-to "those who through disability were unable to do heavy work. “I. know a number of cases in the city,” she said, ” where such light jobs as liftmen arc held by strong, healthy men. This also applies to many married women who have husbands and families working and bringing in good wages, '.but who go to work themselves, selfishly holding jobs which would prevent widows and- other deserving cases from having to apply to charitable organisations for help.” According to this social worker there is far more unemployment among girls and women this year than has been the case for some years, and a great deal of distress is resulting.

“ Selfishness is responsible for a great deal of the poverty which my organisation, has to deal with,” she said. “In the course of my duties T come across dozens of cases of old people, now past working age ; who have grown-up families who are giving them no assistance at all. In some instances I know it is hard for sons and daughters with large families of their own to give to their aged parents’ support, but there are few who cannot give at least a couple of shillings a week. I know of several such cases, where there are families of grown sons who are leaving their mothers and fathers to appeal for charity, for coal, blankets, and food.” As to selfishness, she continued that this also applied to some employers, who paid miserable wages to indigent women who did office cleaning work for them. Hero is a case in point. An old lady whose husband is incapacitated starts work cleaning out in a city industrial concern every morning at 7.30. Sho_ works steadily till noon, and does this every day, including Saturday, for the handsome sum of £1 a week. She used to get more, but a now manager was appointed, and ha cut her wages down to tho present very low' level. This is all she has to keep tho wolf from the door. Her little home, luckily, Is her own, and is kept spotlessly clean, but the only covering on the bed consists of wheat sacks neatly joined together and washed. Finally, she was forced to appeal to charity. She is unablo to get other work, try as she will, and this is not an isolated case. IVo meet with many like this, where the people hold out till tho last before asking for charity.

CHRISTCHURCH RELIEF MEASURES

[Per United Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, June 10

The unemployment question was discussed at a' mooting to-dtiy at which the mayor (Rev. J. K. Archer) presided. Mr Archer said they had not put into operation the organisation of former years, as they had promised to co-operate with the Government. As a result they had no funds, and nil they know about the unemployment position was what they learned from the newspapers. The Government would validate a loan, but ho did not know whether tho Finance Committee of the council would sanction a loan for providing work for the unemployed. Mr W. T/. Lcaclley said they should raise a loan to establish permanent reproductive works. His idea was afforestation work in tho vicinity of tho city. Such 'a scheme -would provide a solution of tho unemployed problem every winter and give a handsome return in the future. Mr W. Worrall (secretary of the General Laborers’ Union) said that 3,200 freezing workers had finished up last .month, and 400 more would finish this ifibnth. The majority of these men remained about tho city. The Labor Department’s books showed 500 men out of work, but he said there were many more than that. It was stated that forty men were being employed by the Public Works on tho hill roads. It was decided to organise on the same lines as last year and got into touch wtih tho City Council and the local bodies to see if they would agree to subsidise approved works. It was also decided to ask the City Finance Committee for a subsidy up to £750.

BELOW AWARD RATES

LABOR COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION.

At a meeting of the Otago Labor Council last night the following resolution was carried:—

“ This meeting of the Otago Labor Council condemns the proposal of the Prime Minister to employ men upon so-called relief works at a_ lower rate of pay than the bare subsistence rate fixed by the Arbitration Court for general laborers. We maintain that as every man bfis the right to live he also has the right to work, and whilst we insist that it is the duty of the State, during periods of depression, to provide suitable employment for the unemployed, we deny emphatically the right or authority or any official to override the decisions of the Arbitration Court, oven under the pretence of relieving distress. Furthermore, we regard_ as particularly reprehensible the Prime Minister’s riuconscionablo attempt_ to take advantage of the destitution, which has been rendered more acute by bis own disorderly immigration polity, to drive an unjust bargain with the innocently helpless and unfortunate. We refuse to believe that the people of New Zealand wish to bo made partners in a practice of this kind, which can bo regarded only as a flagrant abuse of power.”