UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20972, 10 December 1931, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT

■ DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL EXTRA PROVISION SOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS 'At the commencement of the meeting of the Gity Council last night Or Munro said ho had’been approached by a number of the unemployed workers’ organisation. He understood that they wished to put their case before the council, but had received a letter frotn the town clerk stating that the council would not receive them. He did not think that would he wise, .and he moved that they receive the dputation. They knew perfectly well what the deputation would say, but the men would feel they had a grievance if they were not met. Cr Hayward, who seconded the motion, said he thought they had a right to treat all people alike, no matter who they were. “I do not think that is called for,’ said the mayor in reference to Cr Hayward’s remark. “ Everybody is treated alike while I am in the chair.” Cr Hayward: “ Quite right. I agree with what you say.” Cr Munro; “ Just as well to allow them to blow oft steam.” The Mayor read the correspondence which had passed'on the matter. The letter from the Unemployed Workers’ Movement read as follows: — “We would be pleased if the City Council would receive a deputation from the movement. Business: Representation op the local Unemployment Committee ; extra work before Christmas; special unemployment rate to be struck by the council; concessions in tram and bus fares; travelling time, _ etc., and other matters held over previously.” The reply from the town clerk, under date December 8, read as follows:—• “ I have yours of the Vth hist., in which you make a request to he heard by deputation to the City Council at its meeting on Ayediiesday, December 9. In reply, I am requested by His Worship the Mayor to say that in his opinion no good purpose can he served by such a deputation, having regard to the matters you wish to represent to the council. For your information and in amplification 1 might mention the several matters to which you refer m yours under reply: — “ Representation on Local Unemployment Committee.—'The City Conned has no voice in the constitution of the local committee. It was set up at the instance of the Unemployment Board in Wellington, and any representations you have to make ,on that subject should he shut to the hoard. “ Extra Work Before Christmas.— This matter, too, is quite outside the province of the City Council. We are finding work to the limits of the provision provided from Wellington, but representation has already been made to the Government of the necessity to provide for more work, not only as a special effort for the Christmas period, but generally. At a meeting of the social’ workers of the city held yesterday the following' resolution was passed and submitted to the Prime Minister:— ‘ That this meeting of representatives of the various social organisations urges the Government to take steps to provide continuous work for the unemployed, and suggests that the money thus spent be used on productive or necessary works.’ Moreover, rgarding special; provision for extra work at Christinas time, it is recorded m the newspapers that the Government hopes to make a pronouncement on that point in the course of a day ,or two. “ Special Unemployment Rate to he Struck hy4he City Council.—There is no authority in law to strike an nnemployment rate, 1 but in June last the City Council did what is having an exactly like result. It added 2RI m the £ to its general rate to provide £14,242 to cover a part of its cost in finding work for the unemployed. A further sum for the same purpose was levied on the trading departments to the extent of £12,000, and this money is the fund out of which wo are paying, our costs in finding relief works. Moreover, rates are struck yearly, and in any case no further rates can he struck helore May or June of next year.' The other matters you mention—namely, tram and bus faro and travelling time—have already been fully considered and found to be impossible of achievement. In-these circumstances the mayor considers that it is useless making further representation to the council by way of deputation. If. however,’ there is any other specific point you wish to ventilate you could do so by letter and it would be investigated. “ I do not want to stop anyone being heard so long as they talk in a nice manner and are coherent,’ said the mayor. “ 1 have never stopped a deputation yet.” Voting on Cr Munro’s motion was even, those who voted few it being Crs Shaddock, Hayward, Allen, Munro,. and Marlow, and those who voted against it being Crs Mitchell, Bcgg. MHiuloe, Wilkinson, and Wilson. “The voting is equal. Then wo shall hear them,” said the mayor ns he gave his vote in favour of the motion. DEPUTATION’S CASE. The deputation then entered the Council Chamber,' the speakers being Messrs W. Ballantyne and E. W. Braithwaite. Mr Ballantyne said it did not seem fair that the unemployed should .have to pay tram fares ,to and from their work,"as they had little enough to live on, apart from paying tram fares. Some men had had to'pay 6d and others 9d a day for fares. To get to their work at such places as Sullivan’s Dam, near the Brown House, and other places some men had had to walk as much as six miles and be there at 8 o’clock. If they arrived five minutes late they lost half a day’s work. He thought the unemployed might be given a tram concession ticket, with a charge of Id for any given distance. 'They did not want charity ; they wanted a fair deni. Tho speaker also contended that the unemployed could be paid on the job, as were other corporation workers. Corporation cars .which passed the job in any case could bo used for the purpose instead of a special motor being sent to pay the men. On account of the Christmas holidays they had been told that something would be done lor the unemployed, but up to the present nothing had been done. Ho believed, concluded Mr Ballantyne, that in the future something was going to be done. REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEE. In asking that the workers should have representation on the ■Unemployment Committee, Mr E. W. Braithwijito said that tho letter which they had received from tho town clerk on the matter was quite opposite in its text from one which they Jiad received from the Unemployment Commissioner (Mr Malcolm Fraser). Previously they had Loen ‘informed that, the question would have to ho decided in Wellington, but as a result of communication with Wellington they hud been told from, that quarter that the matter could he decided only by tho Unemployment Committee. The members of tho Unemployed Workers’ Association felt that, sufficient attention had not 1 been given to their requirements, and

that'they had not had sufficient representation on the committee. Only somebody who had suffered the troubles experienced by the relief workers could claim to represent the unemployed. By this system much time spent in receiving deputations would he saved, and the closer co-operation obtained would facilitate the working of the scheme. Mr Braithwaite asked if he could speak on the subject of the single men’s camp at Deep Stream, chiefly in regard to food and working conditions. Ho had a letter of complaint signed by six men. ■ The Mayor answered that the conned had nothing to do with Deep Stream. The members of the Workers’ Association could write to the Public Works Department about the matter. SPECIAL RATE SUGGESTED. Mr Braithwaite went, on to say that the relief workers were greatly concerned at the apparent inability of tho Unemployed Committee to do something by way of extending work over the Christmas and New Year period. Every time it was suggested that the gap should be bridged they were met with the reply that the Government allowed the ‘Unemployed Committee so much money, and that the amount could not be exceeded. In Dunedin at the present time men, women', and children were being evicted from their liqines, and the position was becoming, more desperate every day. It seemed that the idea was being gradually forced on to the unemployed that they would be better dead. It was considered that the council had the 'power to give work from the present till January 14 at any rate. The Workers’ Association asked that a rate of, say, -Jd in the £ should he struck in order to make the work possible. Of course, that was only a proposal; the council might be able to improve on it, Tho moneyi could be borrowed from some department that showed a good surplus and could be paid back. The ratepayers . eventually would have to beaj; the burden; but Tie felt suro-that they would not .mind if they knew the money was to be used for, reproductive purposes. At 14s 3d a day for five successive days a considerable sum was involved. It was surmised that it would amount to something like £15,000 or £20,000. He thought if the council was willing to do something like this the Government could be askecl to make a subsidy. Alternative suggestions put forward by the speaker included the idea of making a systematic appeal to all in remunerative work to set aside 2s 6d a week for relief purposes. Another suggestion was that a collection be made among business houses. The appeal for food parcels, organised by the mayor, had been greatly appreciated, but a good meal at Christmas time would not compensate the people for semi-starvation at other periods. It was also asked that single men should be placed in the same category as regards pay as married men. Cr Alunro asked Mr Ballantyne whoso cars he was referring to when he spoke about motor cars going round the jobs. Air Ballantyne: f thought I said they were corporation ears. HOPE HELD OUT. y The Alayor: 1 have been working out the figures which Air Braithwaite submitted, and I find that the amount that would be obtained would come to about £5,000 a week. It would be only n drop in the bucket, but it would be handy af! the same. It was moved by Cr Wilson that tho matter be referred to tho Works and Finance Committee. He stated that at the present time they were not spending to the extent that had been anticipated, and it was possible that the council might be able to do soipething to aid the men over the Christmas holidays. The motion was carried.