UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20865, 7 August 1931, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT

NO SATISFACTION FROM BOARD The replies which the local Unemployment Committee lias received in answer to its representations regarding tho under allocation of No. 5 scheme funds arc nob calculated to ease tho apprehension with which the Dunedin authorities aro viewing the position. Tho Unemployment Commissioner (Air Malcolm Fraser) writes:—“ In reply to your letter of August 1, I have to confirm my telegram of August 3 as . follows; 4 Regret t hat, as full amount authorised for scheme No. 5 for weeks ending August 8 and 15 arc already allocated, 1 am unable to grant a further sum to your centre for these weeks 1 note your remarks concerning the allocation for tho week ending August 8, and in this connection t desire to point out that in all of the other largo centres there aro men eligible for employment under the scheme who have not yet received any relief. For instance, there aro 1,400 such men in Auckland, 1,000 in Wellington, and 800 in Christchurch. It will therefore bo seen that tho position of tho unemployed worker in Dunedin is no more serious than that of tho man in tho other centres mentioned. I may add that it is not possible, with tho limited finances at present available, to provide a full ration of work for all eligible workers.” Sir Charles Statham wired as follows: —“ Referring to my previous telegram, tho Minister of Labour states that as the amount of money made available to the hoard for unemployment relief for next week has been fully allocated it is not possible to make a supplementary grant to Dunedin. The Minister adds that allocations aro being imaclo to centres to tho full extent of the financial resources of tho board.” That tho Unemployment Committee is doing its very best in the interests of the unemployed of this city goes without saying. This morning it held its 120th meeting. WORK AT LAKE HAWEA When asked this morning if it were true that 100 men had been put oil tho Public Works Department’s road construction operations at Lake Hawca, Mr Ball (tho district engineer) said that very likely such was tho case. Tho position was that the whole job would probably ho completed at tho end of the month, and then all the workers (about 150) would bo put off. At present men were being put off as their particular work came to an end, and it was not possible to say exactly what number had been dismissed. , SCHEME HO, 4A Tho local Unemployment Committee has received tho following circular from tho commissioner in regard to scheme No, 4a “ Scheme No. 4a was introduced, as you arc aware, in order to induce farmers to employ on their larms labour in addition to that which would otherwise bo employed; the stipulation was also made that, if possible, tho work on which the men were to be engaged should bo of a developmental character. “ As the season of the year is now approaching when seasonal labour is customarily engaged, it is desired to guard against the possibility of farmers putting workers who aro employed under tho scheme on to work of a seasonal character, and thus avoiding the employment of labour which they would otherwise engage. It was for this reason that it was decided early last month that no further engagements should ho made extending beyond August 31.” ST. ANDREW STREET DEPOT Tho St. Andrew street food depot is in need of more jam and golden syrup. There are plenty of empty jars at the depot, and tho request is being made for jam with which to fill them.

POUHD-A-WEEK SCHEME AT MORNiNCTON

The third weekly .collection of groceries, etc., was made by the Scouts and Cubs on Saturday morning last, when a very generous response was made by residents. The committee is indebted to Mr E. Duff (coal merchant),, of Mornington, for conveying the goods from the various depots to St. Andrew street free of charge. If anyone has been missed by tho canvassers, ami would like to contribute under this scheme, the committee would bo pleased if they would kindly leave their parcels at any of tho local depots, or telephone Mrs Nelson (11-150) or Mrs Wing (20-717), when arrangements will bo made for a Scout to call.

Tho following aro tho local depots:— Mr Woods's store, Elgin road; Mr Shirley’s store, Konmuro road; Mrs Hall’s shop, Lawrence street; Mr Anderson’s shop. Mailer street; Mr Hook’s shop. Meadow street'; Mr Weir’s shop, Maryhill terrace- Mr Davey’s shop, Glon road; Mr M'Goun’s shop, Glen road; Mrs Wing’s residence, Preston crescent; school gymnasium; Mr Lawdin’s shop, Elgin road; Wolfcnden and Russell’s shop, Mornington tram terminus. Tho next meeting of tho committee will ho held in the Scout Hall, Argylo street, Morniflgton, on Monday evening next, August 10, at 8 p.m. ,

PORT CHALMERS POSITION , The Mayor of Port Chalmers states that there is plenty of work available for tho unemployed. Tho Relict Committee is asking for butter, tea, oatmeal, clothing, and boots, as the supply is running low. Orders could bo left with the grocer to leave one pound per week of any article of food at tho relief depot. At present there are 253 on the list of registered unemployed. That is an increase of thirty-seven this week. The Unemployment Committee held a mooting yesterday alternoon, over which Mr W. Lunn presided. The other members of tlio committee present were Messrs J. Watson, 1). L. K. Walker, J. W. M'Kotmo, N. 11. Finch, D. R. M‘Cowatt, and W. H. Roberts. Tho clerk reported be had written to tho' Unemployment Board in regard to a man malting up lost time through illness. A reply had received pointing out that under rule S such lost time could not bo made up. It was stated that only time lost through bad weather could bo made up afterwards. Mr M‘Cowatt said that men residing outside of the borough wore registering, including some men residing in Dunedin. Those included several watersiclors who resided in Dunedin, but usually worked on the waterfront at Port Chalmers. Was the committee agrgo-

able to non-residents obtaining work at Port Chalmers ?

Tho Chair uin said the Borough Council was not in favour of nou-residents. Tho Inspector said that two or three watersidors who resided in Dunedin had been working with tho local unemployed. He considered that was in order, because tho men earned their living on tho waterfront at Port Chalmers. If tho allotments were short they would have to go off first. Mr MtKenzio moved that transfers from Dunedin bo discouraged unless some good reason for tho transfer was shown. Mr M'Kenzio said the committee, however, would not put anything in tho way of unemployed men obtaining work. After discussion Mr M'Kouzio withdrew his motion. Ho could not help remarking oi> how smoothly the, unemployment scheme was working in Port Chalmers.

Mr M ‘Cowatt, referring to a certain report, pointed out that it was not correct that allotments were being obtained for residents of Waikouaiti County; and that tho money so obtained was used to provide Port Chalmers residents with work. That was not the case, and tho inaccuracy of the statement had been pointed out to tho county man responsible for tho misleading report. Before tho meeting dosed Mr M'Gowatt reported that - instructions had been received from the Unemployment Commissioner to tho effect that no further allocations would bo made under the 4a scheme. Those contracts at present in force were to bo reviewed and terminated where the employee was not engaged on developmental work. Tho object of that was to prevent farmers from employing men under relief conditions on seasonal work. All tho work at Port Chalmers was hoing carried out under No. 5 scheme.

MAYOR'S FUND

Tho campaign , for tho collection of funds in connection with the mayor’s relief of distress campaign is being prosecuted under the control of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, and tho following additional subscriptions havo been received :

* REGISTRATIONS WELLINGTON. August 7. The unemployment registrations for tL© week ended August 3 total 43,39(3, an apparent increase of 624 compared with the previous week. Tho details arc:—

Previously acknowledged ... 1 ,051 10 3 Roslyn Bowling Club concert 10 •1 0 Now Zealand Paper Mills Ltd 5 0 0 James Samson and Co. ... 3 s 0 John Chambers and Son 2 2 0 National Electrical Company o 2 0 British General Electric Company 3 ■> 0 •• W.F.A.” (3rd) 0 0 Anon 3 0 0 “ M.,” per Dowling Street Depot •'B.C.,” per Dowling Street 1 0 0 Depot 1 0 0 Fellow Citizen 1 0 0 “ A.M.A.” f (3rd) 1 0 0

With Without de.ji’nts. dcp’uts. Auckland 3,031 A,88u Wellington 2,'187 2,378 Christchurch ... ... 3,203 1,893 Dunedin ... •... ... 1,617 1,227 bivcreargmu ... _... 8157 •105