UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 14

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL BODIES CRITICISED UPbm Ukited PfiKss Association.J INVERCARGILL, July 16. A mass meeting of unemployed was held in the Labom Hall on Saturday afternoon, upwards of 100 men attending. The attitude of tho Government and local bodies was severely criticised by various speakers, and a motion was passed asking that tho Government should cease its present ‘‘stop-gap” method of dealing wit!) the unemployment problem and 'institute a land settlement poljcy, which would provide work and reclaim unproductive farm land." The importance ol a speedy solution of tho problem was stressed by the quotation of .eases of married men with large families who were living on £1 amf £2 a week. In particular, the case of a man who was suffering irom war injuries and was keeping a family of live was cited. The meeting was unanimous in its denunciation of tho attitude of local bodies, and asserted that tho statement that work was available in the country was untrue. The chairman (Mr T. O’Byrne) stated that a list of proposed works bad been drawn up by the Borough Council, and work would be commenced immediately. Tho roll, which has been opened at tho Labour Hall, now contains 160 names.