STILL INCREASING

Evening Star, Issue 20633, 5 November 1930, Page 7

STILL INCREASING

DISTRESS AMONG UNEMPLOYED MAYOR APPEALS FOR FUNDS It is a regrettable fact that the number of applications for relief at the mayor’s depot are increasing instead of decreasing, and, although the workers there arc distributing only tho bare necessities of life, they are being hard put to it to meet the demands. During tho month of October the weekly average number of families who were supplied in this way was 260. This meant that about 1,000 people altogether were concerned. The public has been responding very liberally to the mayor’s appeals, but of late the contributions have been falling off. Tliis is no doubt due to tho idea that the passing of the Unemployment Bill has already solved all immediate problems.

Yesterday tho Mayor (Air R. S. Black) wired to the Minister of Labour urging him to bring the Act into force at onco, as the funds at tho relief depot, which had done so much good work, were now practically depleted, and therefore it might bo necessary to close down. The Minister replied that he hoped the board would be sot up immediately after the nominations were received. It will bo realised that until the benefits of the Act are felt some weeks must elapse. Consequently tho mayor makes an appeal to the citizens to find at least another £3OO or £4OO to keep things going for a month or six weeks. The Mayor’s Relief Committee is cooperating actively with the Hospital Board, with tho object of preventing overlapping. A call at the Trades Hall this morning elicited the information that at the moment there were plenty of goods available for distribution, but unfortunately there wore still more applicants for relief.