DISTRESS IS ACUTE

Evening Star, Issue 20119, 8 March 1929, Page 11

DISTRESS IS ACUTE

FLIGHT OF UNEMPLOYED DESPERATE TRADES OFFICIALS AND SOCIAL WORKERS PF SAME MIND

Only persons hopelessly wrapped up in the consideration of their own welfare can fail to realise how intense is tho distress being suffered by families, the breadwinners of which are unemployed. Tho problem facing the workless and those who seek to ameliorate their troubles is no myth. The cry of tho unemployed for work is no mere hackneyed slogan, raised aimlessly year by year. Judging from the statements of social workers, trades officials, and others who interest themselves in the matter, it is an “ 5.0.5.” for which there is every justification. When interviewed this morning the Ilcv. V. G. Bryan King said there was not the slightest doubt that tho distress during the last few months was more acute than ever before, principally because of tho long-standing nature of tho trouble, and in many cases good workers who had been able to save up a considerable amount of money in wages while they were casually in work had had the unpleasant experience of seeing their little nest eggs (in some instances £2OO or £300) dwindle down until now they were absolutely penniless, with no prospect of getting the employment which would pull them up again. Owing to the dullness of trade there were many skilled workers whom the firms employing them had had to put off. One such, a married man with a family of eight, had given great satisfaction to his firm for sixteen years. Yet ho h:ul had to To put men like that on to ordinary labouring—even if unskilled work could be found for them—was an economic loss.. As a matter of fact, -there was nothing offering whatever. In homes affected by the situation the conditions were pitiable. At the Mission House there were from 300 to 400 callers cadi month. From a hst of twenty-six names chosen at random tho reporter saw that the average number of children in the families ranged between lour and five. WIRES TO THE NORTH. The 'trades and Labour Council is equally conversant with the facts. At a meeting of this body held last evening the secretary (Mr J. Bobinson) was instructed to send tho following wires to tho north:— To Sir Joseph Ward; Dunedin City Council postponed consideration local unemployment for fortnight. Plight of unemployed desperate. Can you give immediate relief? To the Hon. W. B. Taverner: Over 400 unemployed here. Need immediate relief. City Council will do nothing for fortnight. Can you put work in band at once? To Mr H. E. Holland, M.P.: Over 400 people unemployed here ior average of nineteen weeks. City Council slTelved problem for fortnight; Government dilatory; unemployed penniless. Can you do anything? At the same meeting tho following motion was carried by an overwhelming majority:—“That the Otago Labour Council affiliate to the New Zealand Trades and Labour Councils’ Federation, and thus give effect to the merger between tho New Zealand Trades and Labour Councils’ Federation and the New Zealand Alliance of Labour.” The unemployed situation was discussed at some length, and it was made clear as regards the payment of relief rates that relief works could no longer be regarded as such, for the reason that, through the introduction of machinery in private industry, there would be an increasing tendency to dispense with the services of men, and these workers would have to subsist on what were known as relief works. It was pointed out that since 1926 a large number of men had had no work other than relief. It was thought that the general idea about relief works was to tide people over temporary difficulties; but, since nothing had been accomplished to remove these difficulties, the work should cease to be temporary relief. The Government bad said it must nob interfere with private industry, but it must cither interfere or it must accomplish something in the way of relieving unemployment.

HELP FROM H.M.S. DIOMEDE. 'Tho practical sympathy of Captain L. V. Wells, D. 5.0., R.N., and the men under him on H.M.S Diomede lias been greatly appreciated by members of the Trades Council and the many people who attended the concert given by the ship’s band in the Gardens last evening

It is understood that each bandsman volunteered to make the effort, and under Bandmaster F. Kirkhy (late bandmaster of the Royal Marines) a splendid programme of music was rendered. The light drizzle did not keep the people away r , for ample shelter was found under tho trees. Every item was enthusiastically applauded, a fact which says much for the able manner in which Bandmaster Kirkby has trained bis men; It is interesting to note that the band was formed only since he went on the ship, and lie undertook the instruction of many novices. Judging from the band’s present standard this is something of a revelation. Altogether £'s 16s lOd was taken last night, but 9s 3d of this was for the sale of programmes. The cost of advertising may have to be deducted from the total.

On Sunday afternoon, between 3 and 5, a second concert will be given in a similar cause at a place y'et to bo fixed, possibly St. Clair or St. Kilda.