UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT

RELIEF WORKERS' POSITION GROWING OF VEGETABLES UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD'S NEW POLICY The Unemployment Board has decided that after January 1, 1932, there will be a condition that, in order to obtain relief, workers will be required to show that they are endeavouring to help thcnselves by cultivating their garden plots for the growing of vegetables. In a circular sent out to unemployment committees the commissioner (Mr Malcolm Eraser) says:—The board seeks the co-operation of local committees, certifying officers, and local authorities to ensure as far as possible that those in receipt of relief who are in a position to help themselves in this way are doing so. The following points are submitted as suggested lines of action to be taken in this matter:— (1) When a man registers or calls at the bureau for other xmrposes he should be required to state whether lie has a plot of ground suitable for cultivation and whether he is doing his best to provide for his requirements by growing vegetables. (2) if he has no suitable ground, to state whether, if a piece of land is allotted to him, he will undertake its care. ' (3) The cultivation to be carried out entirely in the relief worker's own time. (4) Land for cultivation where none is available to the relief worker: It can no doubt be arranged locally for sections of either public or private land to be made available for unemployed to cultivate either singly or in groups. In this connection it is considered that local conditions will guide committees in the best procedure that can be adopted. The board urges that some provision be made in this way to provide those workers who have no ground of their own with an opportunity to help themselves. (5) To assist committees in making investigations where necessary as to whether the workers are doing their best to help themselves in the cultivation of their garden plots, the board approves of a worker being employed for his ration of work under scheme No. 5 for this purpose. It is suggested that a more or less experienced gardener might be available to carry out this work and at the same time act as a supervisor or instructor to give the workers advice in working their plots. (6) The. whole scheme to be undertaken through existing organisations without financial commitments to the Unemployment Board. (7) A most essential feature is to ensure that every effort on these lines must depend on local self-help as far removed as possiblo from i. :y suggestion of direct management by the Government or its officers. The board wishes this matter to be pursued as far as local conditions will allow, NO. 5 SCHEME LOCATION OF GROUPS Men will report for work to-morrow as under:— Otago Education 80ard.—12.30 p.m., at Ford's byre, Pine Hill, groups 53, 24. 25, 59. Otago Harbour Board.—6 a.m., at Leith bridge, Harbour terrace, groups 126, 131, 137, 143. Tramways Department.—B a.m., at tramways yard, Anderson's Bay road, group 28. Reserves Department.—B a.m., at Knox street, Opoho, groups 503, 404. 12.30 p.m., at croquet pavilion, Montecillo, group 31. Works Department.—Groups commencing 8 a.m.: 1, Pine Hill road, at Orbell street; 3, North road, 1J miles below Cleghoni street; 5, Patmos avenue, off Leith Valley road; 6, Oakland street, at Tomahawk road; 7, North Taieri road, at Flagstaff road, Taieri County; 9, Nevill street, at Bums street, Caversham; 10, Caversham Valley road, at Aberfeldy street; 11, Stone street, at quarry; 14 Signal Hill road, above M'Gregor street; 15, Warrender street, at Queen street; 19, Alva street (Stafford street, at William street); 23, Queen's drive, at Russell street; 30, top end of Baldwin street; 34, Woodhaugh street, at quarry; 36 Queen's drive, City road to Young street; 42, Black's road, at North road; 47, Wharf street, at French street; 48, Woodhaugh street, at quarry; 49, Pinehill road, above Campbell's road. HILLSIDE WORKSHOPS EMPLOYEES Mr E. Jones, M.P., has received the following telegram from Mr Rousell, the new manager of the New Zealand railways:—"Referring to your telegram of the 12th inst. to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister regarding reduction of staff at the Hillside Workshops, in special case mentioned, arrangement have now been made to retain the employee concerned (man with twelve of a family) for a few weeks after holidays. The Government Railway Board regrets, owing to shortage of work, that there is no opportunity for employment of other men referred to." - ST. ANDREW STREET DEPOT The St. Andrew street depot has been a scene of remarkable activity during to-day, the work of sorting out the Christmas cheer hampers being still in progress. Yesterday the willing workers at the depot handled twenty boxes of tea, of 561 b each, and divided them up into Jib packages. No fewer than fifty-six bags of sugar, each weighing 701 b, were made up into 41b parcels, and half a ton of butter was parcelled up into ilb lots. Two gross of jellies were also arranged in small lots, while 1,200 loaves were stacked ready for distribution, and handling took place of 500 frozen mutton carcases. Moreover, three tons of new potatoes were measured up into small packages. SALVATION ARMY'S INVITATION Adjutant Thomson, of the Salvation Army Workmen's Homo, has made arrangements for a free dinner and a free tea on Christmas Day for 100 men. Men are still wanted to fill the quota, and an invitation is extended to all men who have nowhere to go on Christinas Day. So far there have been only four applicants. Most of the foodstuffs for these two meals have been contributed by the tradespeople of the city, and as a consequence they will not cost the Army as much as an ordinary Sunday meal for half the desired number,!

WATERSIDERS' GENEROSITY The six hundred sheep carcases which arrived by tbe Holmdale yesterday for distribution among the unemployed were brought down freight free, and the Dunedin watersiders discharged l them without reward. MOSGIEL RELIEF COMMITTEE The Mosgiel District Relief Committee has arranged to provide some extras in necessitous cases, and so help impart some cheer in the festive season to the home in Mosgiel and surrounding district where these exist. The committee has made an appeal for subscriptions, which may be forwarded to the mayor or town clerk of Mosgiel or to any of the members of the Mosgiel Ministers' Association. The. proprietors (Messrs Stone and Strain) of the Mosgiel Picture Theatre, have advised the mayor that they will donate the net proceeds of the entertainment to be provided this evening. Tickets for this entertainment are selling freely, and a very large attendance is assured. UNEMPLOYED ORGANISATION The weekly meeting of the Unemployed Workers' Movement was held on Thursday in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, a good attendance of delegates being present. Mr E. V. Cuff (vice-ipresident) occupied the chair. Correspondence was received from the secretary of the Hospital Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Dunedin branch of the Locomotive Drivers' Association. Complaints from many groups were received, and a deputation was appointed to meet the local Unemployment Committee to have the complaints considered. A number of eviction cases were reported to the meeting. Reports were received from the deputations which attended the Hospital Board and the local Unemployment Committee. The secretary reported on the financial position of the movement, and a report on the organising of the women's movement was received. It was agreed to hold open air meetings in the Queen's Gardens during the holidays. A deputation was appointed to attend the Chamber of Commerce. It was agreed to ask all unemployed and their dependents to meet at the Hospital Board's office on December 28 to interview the board. MAYOR'S FUND The following additional donations to the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund are acknowledged with thanks: —

CONCERT FOR UNEMPLOYED In order that unemployed men and their families might have an evening's enjoyment without, being subject to expense, the members of Groups 211 and 215 conceived the. happy idea of staging a free concert to which all their fel-low-workers and their dependents would he invited. The Dunedin City Council placed the Town Hall Concert Chamber at the disposal of the organisers, Messrs F. Hayward and B. Petrie, free of charge, and the concert was held last evening, when the hall was packed. An elaborate programme was presented, and the whole of the proceedings were invested with an air of Christinas gaiety that spoke well for the spirit of everyone present, including the performers themselves, all of whom gave their services gratuitously. The overture and entr'acte were played by Dagg's Dance Band and the Gaiety Girls, another talented musical organisation, added considerably to the brightness of the evening. Songs, dances, humorous items, instrumental solos and duets, and acrobatics were all included in the entertainment, while a comedy juggling number and a ventriloquist 'added a touch of vaudeville to the proceedings. The following was the programme:—Overture, D Dagg's orchestra; selection, Gaiety Girls' orchestra; song, Mr J. Alexander; duet, Mesdames Barry and Johnstone; humorous patter, Miss Anzac Patton and Mr Paul Reno; song, Mr J. Montague; ventriloquist, Mr Eggars; dance duo, Misses Black and Ramsay; comic song, Mr W. Holmes; musical entertainment by the Phillips family; dance, Miss Patton; mouth organ solo, Master Leslie Wilson; comedy juggling, Mr Paul Reno; song, Mrs Johnstone; dance, Miss May "Wilson; accordion solo, Mr Ted Heaney; song, Mrs J. Barrv; acrobatics, Mr H. M'Grath; Mr M'Dowell. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Montague, Miss Coutts, and Mr J. Kearsley.

Mr and Mrs Mcrrett Wilkinson ... £3 3 0 John Reid and Sons 3 3 0 Church of Christ (South Dun0 0 edin) 2 C.H.M. 1 10 0 I.O.U. ... ... 1 0 0 C.E.Y. 1 0 0 H.Gr. ... 1 0 0 “ One in Sympathy ” 1 0 0 S. Miller 0 10 0