UNEMPLOYMENT LOAN

Evening Star, Issue 20130, 21 March 1929, Page 17

UNEMPLOYMENT LOAN

—-—■ coMcll ■ dea£s with SERIOUS SltUATltfH -fIIIESTION SUBSIDY ' The fooling at Inst night’s meeting of the City Council was that it the Government diet its ,share, by way or subsidising the forthcoming . £25,000 ■loan 'th© unemployed need not fear the rigours and hardships of approaching winter. In the'absence .of Cr J- <L Clark the adoption of the Committee’s report' was moved by Cr F. «. Mitchell, who said that the recommendation to raise £25,0(30 was jnade subject to the' approval of such works to earn Government subsidy on the cost of the labour such works entailed. In this connection the general practice in the past' 1 had. been, to decline approval .for 'works t of that description, and restrict the approval’to works of a class that njmht not otherwise, be put in hand within any reasonable lime, if at all. It was, however, considered impossible to continue finding further works of tile class to which in the past the approval bad been restricted, and which were likely to supply any real value commensurate with the money expended upon them. If this recommendation were approved, it would be necessary to submit a schedule of the proposed works for submission to the Public Works Department for approval as subsidised works, and also to obtain tho sanction of the, Loans Hoards to the raising of the necessary loan. In the absence of such details of .the 'approved works it was not possible to, suggest, with any degree of accuracy, what amount of subsidy would bo forthcoming to supplement tho loan of £25,0(10, but it was probable that such amount would not exceed about £5,000. He considered that the idea was a sincere attempt to meet a serious situation. Unfortunately the Government method of subsidising was hampered by so many restrictions.

Or W. A. Scott remarked that it was evidently admitted to bo a difficult matter to 1 handle from the standpoint of gpttin" the greatest possible return ior the ratepayers. They should see that lull value was dblained for their money. % Or J. fi. Shaddock considered that the Works Committee and the Reserves Committee should not lose any time in getting their works prepared; then the works could be gone on with promptly, Cr Wilson said that it was entirely a Public Works loan, and the reserves were not included in the schedule. The works would ho ordinary public works which would be urgently required, and the arranging of the work would he deputed. How exactly it would be subsidised ho did not know. This £25,000 would not he for a majority of earthworks, because they bad practically finished that sort of work in the city. | It was for works that bad not been allocated. At the present time thirty more men were engaged, because the engineer hud been instructed to put on as many as possible. Cr J. W. Munro, M.P., explained that when lie had taken part in the deputation to the Prime Minister it had not been his intention to take the matter on bis own shoulders. He had been associated with the Trades Hall activities, and in his capacity as a member of Parliament he had been asked if he would go north at that time in order to bring pressure to bear from the standpoint of the unemployed. In iho past works bad been restricted. He thought that the provision of £25,000 each from the council and the Govern nient was on a good basis. He considered it little use sending married men away from home. Naturally be lud got no particular promises from the'Prime Minister, but Sir Joseph was prepared to see the money expended on works that would he of economic advantage. The Trades Hall officials were very pleased that the council appreciated the situation, for it was a more earnest attempt at assistance- than had ever been made in the past. It was practical evidence that the council intended to do its job, and if the Government did likewise the unemployed would bo properly cared for Ibis winter. Sir Joseph bad made them believe that the subsidy would be- better than in the past. Cr U. S. Clack expressed the hope that the Government would realise its responsibility. He was worried about the Prime Minister’s saying that Hie money must be used on reproductive works. He did not see where that came in in the city works. Cr W. Begg; Will there be an addition to the rates? Cr Mitchell: I expect so. Jn fact, there will have to be. The report was adopted.