UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

EFFORTS TO RELIEVE DISTRESS LOCAL BODIES CONFER HOSPITAL BOARD'S ACTIVITIES Representatives of the nearby contributory local bodies to the Otago Hospital Board met in the Council Chambers at the Town Hall this morning. The meeting was convened by the deputy-mayor (Cr F. W. Mitchell) at the suggestion of the chairman of the Hospital Board, and had no connection wit i the recent happenings in the city, as it was arranged some time prior to the disturbance of Saturday last. The purpose of the conference was to afford an opportunity to the members of the Hospital Board to explain to the contributory local authorities the position regarding the whole subject of relief of distress within the area controlled by the Hospital Board in preparation for a conference fixed for Thursday next at Wellington, when representatives of the hospital boards in the dominion are to confer with the Prime Minister, the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, and the Minister of Health, who is in charge of the hospital boards’ administration. Since the passing of the Unemployment Act in 1930 controversy has raged around the matter of responsibility for the relief of distress, due solely to unemployment. The Act seemed to place upon the shoulders of the Unemployment Board this responsibility, and the hospital boards generally took the view that they had therefore no further responsibility for the relief of distress to able-bodied men whose needs arose solely from the fact that they were unable to find work to supply themselves with the necessities of existence.

For some considerable time it has become increasingly evident that the funds at the disposal of the Unemployment Board are wholly inadequate to provide the whole of tho unemployed with sufficient work to meet their requirements for food and shelter. The local authorities have done their utmost to provide work for the whole of the men for whom the Unemployment Board was prepared to find the wages, and in doing so have been compelled to eat into their own resources.

For many weeks past this estimate has been reduced by Wellington, with a definite instruction that m no circumstance is the reduced amount to be exceeded. Repeated protests against the cutting down of the estimated requirements by the local committee have always brought the same reply—viz., “ inadequate funds to provide the full requirements.” In view, therefore, of the fact that insufficient _ funds were forthcoming from Wellington, and in view also of the fact that the depots that have been functioning under the mayor’s Relief Committee were closed down, it became necessary to ascertain quite definitely whether the responsibility for the relief of distress due solely to unemployment was to be assumed by the Unemployment Board.

At the meeting this morning it was decided that the Hospital Board in the meantime take control of the depot pending the result of the deputation to the Ministers on Thursday, and it was resolved to support the deputation in its efforts to abolish the “ stand-down ” week, although it implied an increase in tho unemployment levy. HOSPITAL BOARD RELIEF OPERATING M CHIT SYSTEM Already the relief scheme formulated by the Hospital Board for the purpose of providing food for the relief workers and their families during “ stand down” week is working in practical fashion. In the meantime tho chit system is being followed out, and each applicant is given a Hospital Board order on any retail establishment where hp fancies he can get the best value. The value of the order is based on the number of dependents in the particular family being dealt with. Between 9 a.m. and noon to-day 171 chits were issued. CENTRAL MISSION DEPOT RELIEF FOR ISO FAMILIES The Mission Hall was reopened yesterday afternoon for the distribution of food to the unemployed. This centre has been organised by tho committee of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement and the staff of the Rev. Neale’s depot. Fifty parcels were sent in from the Star Stores and fifty from the Self-help Stores, various other firms helping to their utmost to alleviate the distress existing. The bread, butter, etc., donated are very much appreciated by the unemployed. One hundred and fifty families were afforded relief in the short space of one and a-half hours. The depot was open again from 8 until 6 this afternoon. Registration cards must be produced. Donations of groceries, bread, jam, and vegetables will be thankfully received. For the purpose of working the depot the Unemployed Workers’ Committee has been granted the use of the premises by the Central Mission authorities, and the mission staff has agreed to supervise the manifold activities associated with tho scheme. Although it is pleasing to note that such a good start was made yesterday, the fact remains that at least 200 applicants had to bo turned away emptyhanded. Of course, organised efforts are being made to obtain fiirther supplies for the depot, but it be readily understood that donations of food supplies from any source will be urgently needed. Under the charge of Mr J. H. Hinton, the system is working wonderfully well, and, if the supply of foodstuffs is kept up, there is no reason why anybody in the city should go hungry. . For the reasons that the Hospital Board is caring for men who are labouring under the disadvantages of their “stand-down” week, and that the Central Mission Depot is dealing with all who are not eligible for relief from the Hospital Board depot, there will be no overlapping. NO. 5 SCHEME Working under No. 5 scheme, the following groups will report for duty to-morrow St. Hilda Borough Council.—7.4s a.m., at Scott street yard: Group 8. Otago Education 80ard.—12.30 p.m., at Ford’s byre, Pine Hill: Groups 32, 44, 53, 54. 12.30 p.m., at Macandrew Road School: Those men of group 157 who did not work in the earlier part of the week. Ocean Beach Domain.—B a.m., at band rotunda, St. Ivilda: Group 156. Otago Harbour 80ard.—12.30 p.m., at Leith bridge, Harbour terrace: Groups 126, 131. D.C.O. Reserves Department.—B a.m., at Knox street, Opoho: Groups 403 j 404, 502. 8 a.m., at croquet pavilion, Moptecillq.: Grqup RSw

NEED FOR SCRUTINY EMPLOYMENT OF SINGLE MEN[Pee United Press Association.], WELLINGTON, aJnuary 11. An emphatic denial is given by tha Unemployment Board to the report crediting it with instructing that, except in extraordinary circumstances, all single men, after January 23, should receive only one day’s work a week and after February 13 no work at all.' A published report of a meeting of the Petone Unemployment Committee stated that this instruction from the board was considered, and that, while the committee had to carry out tha board’s instructions, each case would be considered on its merits. “ The action of the Petone Conn mittee indicated in the report may have been based on a suggestion in a recent circular from the board,” said the unemployment commissioner (Mr Malcolm; Fraser) in an interview. In the board’s circular advising local unemployment' committees of the allocation of funds for the weeks ending January 9 and 16 the following paragraph appears:—; “It is suggested that relief workj should not be given to single men unless their circumstances clearly warrant the expenditure that would be entailed in providing it, and it should only bo granted to such other eligible applicants who are unable, after diligent inquiry and search, to obtain seasonal or other, work.”. The board is much concerned that although we are now in, the midst of seasonal work connected with primary production the numbers of tha registered unemployed are not diminishing as should be expected, and instead are in some centres increasing. Mr Fraser added: “Seeing that tha financial provision made for unemployment is quite inadequate to provide full relief for all unemployed, it is essential 1 in view of the state of the funds, that searching scrutiny should be made into every case, so that no relief work should be granted unless the circumstances fully warrant it. It is within the province of each local committee to determine how the relief which the funds made available to it can provide is to be granted.” ORDER MUST BE KEPT PRIME MINISTER COMMENTS ON. DUNEDIN AFFAIR. “One has every sympathy for tha unemployed and those on relief work, but law and order must be maintained,” said the Right Hon. 6. WForbes, Prime Minister, at Christchurch yesterday morning, with reference to the disturbance in Dunedin.

“It fieems,” ho continued, “ that it was rather a spur of tho moment affair than an organised act of defiance.Those people must realise that everything possible is being done to help them. There is a lack of funds, but there' is no lack of sympathy anq[ willingness to belp.-^-CurktchurcA