WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 3

WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

DISCUSSED BY TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL With a view to giving employment to those out of work, Cr Stevenson, ot the Taieri County Council has been in communication with the Minister or Public Works (the Hon. E. A. Ransom). The correspondence suggested subsidising the cutting of _ gorse on roadlines with a view to providing work for the unemployed, as well as having the gorse removed. x , , This matter came before yesterdays meeting, when Cr Stevenson explained liis reasons for writing, as the council was near to the city. He did not agree with the'condition stipulated, and suggested that the subsidy should be paid by the property-owner. It would be unfair to uso the funds of the council for the subsidy. He had written to the Minister on certain lines, and had received a rejjly that the suggestion would he considered. The letter from the Minister contained the following conditions:— . “The district engineer, who had been asked to investigate the matter, had reported that some fifteen to twenty miles of roads on the hills behind Green Island and around Kaikorai Valley were so badly infested with goise that the ' portions used by traffic were the only parts not covered with heavy growth. The question of granting some assistance to the council in order that it might undertake the clearing of some of the roads as a relief work had been reconsidered at a meeting of the Cabinet Unemployment Committee; and he had been authorised to inform them that the Government was prepared to subsidise the work on a £1 for £1 basis up to £SOO, on the following conditions 1. That a brief specification, estimate, and schedule of roads on which the work was to be undertaken were to be submitted to and approved by the district engineer before clearing was commenced. . .. 2. That the work was to be carried out on the co-operative contract system by small parties of men at rates to be approved by the district engineer. 3. That only unemployed married men engaged through the Government Labour Bureau were to be given employment. „ ~ 4. That the County Council would give a written assurance under seal and in pursuance of a special resolution to keep the cleared roads free of growth in future. * Cr Stevenson urged that the conditions be amended as follows:

Each ratepayer to he responsible lor clearing, the gorse from tho 'roads opposite and adjoining his own property to the centre of the road. That could be done either by letting co-operative contracts or by day labour. If it were decided to do the work by co-opera-tivo contract then tho ratepayers whom the contract relieved of gorso from the road would have to find the £1 for £1 to have the' work done. That the ratepayers who got relief by gorse being removed from the roads adjoining their properties by the above grants, give the Government an undertaking to keep the said roads free of gorse in future to the satisfaction of the Government noxious weeds mspec tor. If the Cabinet Unemployment Committee could see its way to amend its suggestion ns indicated by him, then there should be a chance of having something done. Or Stevenson moved that the Minister be thanked and his suggestion forwarded. This was seconded by Cr Kempshell, and carried.