HOLIDAY RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 6

HOLIDAY RELIEF

HOSPITAL BOARD MAKES GRANT FOR WORK PROTEST AGAINST ENTRY OF UNEMPLOYED FROM AUSTRALIA Tlio Hospital Board last night decided, after having heard representations by Mr J. Robinson on behalf of the unemployed, to make a grant of £250 —£200 to the City Corporation and £SO to the St. Kilcla Borough Council —to provide work immediately tor the relief of the unemployed within the board’s area over the Christmas season, those bodies to mako application for a Government subsidy on the amounts. The Chairman (Mr W. E. S. Knight) said a deputation of from eighty to 100 men. with Mr Alunro, M.P., and Mr J. Robinson, had waited on the board that afternoon, and he had suggested that Mr Robinson should moot tho board that evening. The board decided to boar Mr Robinson.

In addressing the board Mr Robinson said tho reason for his appearance was that the Unemployment Board had promised to find employment for all the unemployed at Christmas. That afternoon about 200 unemployed had gone to the Town Hall to interview tho mayor, who, however, was out of town. They managed to find two members of tho local committee, who pointed out that very low people had offered work under tho schcmo by which a subsidy was paid on wages to private employers. Ho understood there were something like 500 men out of work in Dunedin at present. There were only five working days before Christmas, and a great many of them did nob have the necessaries of life. At a time like this they would not like to think that anyone lacked the necessaries of life. His object in coming to the board, said Mr Robinson, was to see if it were possible to give these people sustenance to tide them over Christmas. It would bo too much to expect the local committee to do much, because it was only set up on 'Wednesday, and^ they could nob expect miracles. They intended to interview tho mayor again to-morrow morning, and possibly the City Council mi°ht assist. The trouble would bo accentuated by tho fact that tho foundries were closing down and would bo shut for three weeks, most of the men having been employed for only part time for tho greater part of the year. He also understood the position would bo mado worse bv the Government reducing the staffs of the railway running sheds'and railway station by about thirty or forty. _ Quito a number of people were coming from Australia —ho had spoken to some of thorn—-to make makers still worso. Ho asked that au extra effort be mado to give Christmas cheer. Even if tho men were given work at oneo there was now hardly time for them to earn the necessary amount in the time. Whatever the board did would be verv greatly appreciated. Mr Scurr asked how many of the men of whom Air Robinson spoke required assistance from the board. Mr Robinson replied that he could not answer tho question at tho moment. He had not been in touch with the question for about twelve months. • Ho knew there were about 500 registered unemployed. , . Airs Aiacdonald asked if a good many of the men who were members of the deputation wore receiving relief from tho depot in Dowling street. Air Robinson: They may/bo. Airs Aiacdonald: J think you will find the great majority of them are. Air Robinson: I suppose cases like that do occur, hut I don’t suppose that altogether they are getting more than sufficient. , . . .. , Air Scurr asked it the majority of tho 200 men mentioned were single or married, or were they of tho floating tJ iVir Robinson said he did nob know many of the men personally. Some wore single and some were married. The single men wore really in tho position that they must not ask for work, which was given first to tho married men, and they wore in desperate

straits. There was the great problem of the single man who had dependents —often a son supported the family. Mrs Macdonald said an effort was being made to provide fairly liberal orders from the relief depot for the holidays. She agreed with a lot of what Mr Robinson had said about the single men. SI in know that several men who had applied for relief recently came from Australia.

Mr (■', Callaway said they should have representations made to the Act-ing-Prime Minister tq prevent people coming from Australia. They had a duty to their own unemployed, but not to the unemployed from Australia. The Chairman said ho thought ajl members wore conversant with tho position. The granting of £SOO to the local committee by the unemployment Board was only tinkering with tho question. Very little relief could ho expected from that source. Those who had work to do would bo very reluctant to take advantage of the proposal. Instead of insisting upon subsidies from local bodies the Unemployment Board should have made straight-out grants. In December tho board should have £50,000 at its disposal. Mr Dove: Plus a. Government £50,000. The Chairman again stressed the contention that tho board should have made straight-out grants instead of insisting on subsidies._ He could assure Mr Robinson that his representations would receive the earnest consideration which they deserved. Mr Robinson said that late that afternoon Mr Muuro had sent tiio following telegram to tho secretary of tho Unemployment Board: —“ Bromley stated in Dunedin grants to Hospital Board and local bodies to relievo distress would carry subsidy of £2 for £l. Two hundred men waited on mo today. Have interviewed Hospital Board which meets to-night, and is prepared to make grant if two to one subsidy given by Unemployment Board. Unemployed men hero becoming desperate. Seven hundred men hero put of work. Wire reply immediately if possible.— Munro.” Tho board went into committee to discuss tho matter, but before doing so tho following motion, moved by Mr G. Gallaway, was carried unanimously:—“That the Government bo requested to take immediate steps to prevent unemployed from Australia from entering Now Zealand.” It was decided that a copy of the resolution ho forwarded to the Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. E. A. Ransom). After discussion in committee the board tlven decided to make the grant of £250 as stated above.

COMPLAINT FROM INVERCARGILL

NO SUBSIDY FROM BbARD. [Pkr tfxixßD Pkkss Assocutiom.] INVERCARGILL, December IS. Sixty-two men, all returned soldiers, emp!oycd_ on city works, finished work this evening owing to the subsidy from tho Unemployment Board not being forthcoming. 'The Unemployment Board, through the Press, asked local authorities to put work in hand before Christmas in order to provide wages to carry tho men -over tho Christmas period. “In pursuance of that urge from tho Unemployment Board,” stated tho Mayor (Mr J. D. Campbell) this morning, “tho City Council lodged applications immediately for subsidies on various works. In order, genuinely to assist as far as possible tho council put work in hand immediately with tho idea of enabling men to earn as much as possible before Christmas and to employ as many as possible. The works were qiiitc unproductive, and such that tho council in ordinary circumstances would not have undertaken. “ The council lias sent three telegrams to the board requesting a decision,” added the Mayor, “and the board has been advised that a number of men will have to bo discharged as the works cannot be proceeded with without a subsidy. It is most disappointing that tho council should receive no satisfaction when it has undertaken so much and has endangered its own finances in order to employ as many men as possible before Christmas. Tho board has apparently ignored the council’s telegrams, as no reply has been received.”