UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20556, 7 August 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

WORK OH WHARE FLAT ROAD EXTENSIVE UNDERTAKING The City Council last night considered a minute which was submitted by the mayor (Mr 11. S. Black), and as a result of its adoption extensive relief work will be made available within about five miles of Dunedin. The mayor’s minute read:— Recently i received the following telegram from the Minister of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) With reference to unemployment in Dunedin, my department has found difficulty in providing suitable works near Dunedin for relief purposes, but 1 have had the DunedinWhare Flat Hill road investigated, and after consideration of the report now available I am prepared to put this work in hand provided local bodies concerned will by resolution assume responsibility for future maintenance. The annual maintenance charge is estimated at £250, and 1 would suggest that the Dunedin City Council contribute £2OO per annum and the Taieri County Council £SO per annum. The estimated cost of the road to completion is £10,400, including renewal of Kay’s bridge, and provided the local bodies concerned are agreeable to undertake future maintenance 1 am prepared to place fifty men for the commencement later increasing this number. This should provide work for some time to come near Dunedin. I would be glad of your council’s concurrence in the maintenance proposal. A conference was forthwith arranged with representatives of the Taieri County Council, and it was found that the county was agreeable to the proposal. The matter is therefore submitted to the council for its decision. The proposed work appears to be eminently suitable for relief work, and, moreover, it is within easy reach of the city. No part of the road in question is within the city limits, but we are interested to some extent as the owner of the waterworks reserves in the locality. However, the road is of litlo use to us in our operations in the catchment area. Our proposed liability is restricted to a yearly payment of £2OO towards the maintenance of the road when it shall have been remade. 4s a contribution to the unemploym mt position I think we are justified in taking a part in the proposal, and would recommend that the council agrees to contribute 80_ per cent. <j{ the maintenance, with a limit of £2OO in any one year. I think also that a time limit should be stipulated for—say, five years—when the position could be again reviewed. The minute was considered in committee. and the mayor’s recommendation was unanimously agreed to. THE ART UNION APPEAL An appeal is being issued by the secretary of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee (Mr P, Neilson) to the citizens of Dunedin to assist in the alleviation of distress among those fellowcitizens who, through no fault of their own, find themselves unemployed. The suffering consequent on this, tho appeal states, has been brought home to many of those who have had to deal with the problem, and it has been decided to make this special appeal for all to support the art union, which closes on Saturday, by purchasing tickets and assisting in selling them. The one thing most needed in the work is money, and if all will give something the employed citizens will be greatly assisted in tho forthcoming months to cope with their domestic needs. It is hoped to be able to announce a largo surplus. Everyone can help by purchasing a ticket, which carries with it the chance of winning one of the prizes offered. The funds accumulated will bo spent wisely, and those who are in need will bo assisted to the fullest possible extent. Between now and Saturday let everyone do his or her bit in this direction.