UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT

APPEAL FDR SUSTENANCE PLIGHT OF DEMONSTRATION LEADERS’ FAMILIES In order to make an appeal for sustenance on behalf of the wives and families of the imprisoned demonstration leaders, a deputation comprising over a dozen women and a few men waited on the Hospital Board this morning. Three representatives were appointed to put the case before the board. Mrs E. Bennett stated that the wives and families of the imprisoned men were actually destitute, and had no food in their homes. She did not think it fair to pay a little off their rent and leave them without food. The least the board could do was to give them sustenance, for the need was only temporary. If men ran away and left their wives the board granted sustenance to the wives. Rent was a thing which could, at a pinch, be left till the men were released, but food was vitally necessary _ now. Apart altogether from the rights or wrongs of the case,’ it was not fair that little children should suffer. All that was asked for was temporary assistance till the men came back.

Mr Maitland said there was a large meeting of the unemployed last night, and, if the weather were fine, there would be another to-night. At these meetings they were being continually asked how the wives and families of the imprisoned men were faring—especially the dependents of Braithwaite, whose sentence was three months. It would greatly improve the temper of the crowd if the deputation could leave the board and assure the people that the distressed families were being given food.

The Chairman' of the board (Mr W. E. S. Knight) said that the families were being helped in the matter of paying their rent. “ Our relief officer was given to understand that food was not Required,” he added. “Am I right?” Mrs Bennett: It is quite wrong about the food. There has been no guarantee in any shape or form that the families would be kept in food. Mr Knight: If those people apply to the relief officer for food relief will be given in the ordinary way. Mrs Bennett: In the ordinary way? Mr Knight: Most certainly. Applications must be made, and when the applicants come along each will be given relief on the merits of the case. There should be no difficulty whatever. Mr Scurr: I discussed this matter with the relief officer and asked her to find out all about these families. She reported that the only trouble was rent. In fact, she was told that food was not required.

Mrs Bennett, who asked for the names of the persons who said that, remarked that some wife who happened to have a little food in the house at the time might have said she had enough to go on with. Mr Scurr: I may say that the relief officer had a job to find some of these women. They were never at home. I am sure I do not wish to be hard. I want to do everything) that is fair and just. I told our officer'to see that the rents were paid. Mrs Bennett said that if the members were prepared, to give the sustenance that was required on the merits of each case, she thought that would meet the situation. Mrs Ross said that if any of the wives wished to go to some employment, the staff of the day nursery would always be willing to look after the children. Mrs Bennett: It is hard for a young girl to find work, apart from married women. In Mrs Braithwaite’s case it is impossible to go out and work. She has a baby three months old. Mrs Ross: I am not suggesting that any of them should go out and work. I merely want you to know that the nursery is available if any of them are desirous of going out to work. NO. 5 SCHEME In reply to the Unemployment Committee’s request that - additional funds should be provided to relieve the acute distress, the Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has replied as follows:—“ In view of the fact that the board is expending the whole of its anticipated revenue on the relief of unemployment, and as Dunedin is receiving its proportionate quota of the limited money available, I regret that it is impossible to grant your centre additional funds for the relief of unemployment at’ the present time. The board, however, is giving consideration to the question of modifying scheme No. 5 to permit the abolition of “ stand down ” week. CITIZENS' RELIEF DEPOT The following donations are acknowledgd:—Mrs F. H. King, £5; Brown, Ewing’s staff, 401 b butter; Aulsebrooks* biscuits (weekly donation); G. Chipps/ Co-operative Fruitgrowers, T. Paterson and Co., Mr Donaldson, Mrs Lewis, Sun Fruit Shop, W. Wright (Cromwell), fruit and vegetables; Mr Hutton, carcass veal and lettuces; Mr Murrell, Abbotts, bread; W. Smith and Co. (weekly donation), tea and sugar; Stafford Hospital, fish. To-day is the big day of the week, and any donations of foodstuff will be gratefully received. Jam is urgently needed. Arrangements are practically complete for to-morrow’s drive. ■ Two hundred volunteers will canvass the city and suburbs, which have been divided into fifty blocks. Each man will be prepared to exhibit, on demand the seal of the depot. Many families are living in hope of this drive providing footwear to enable their children to resume school next week, and men’s boots are a requirement of tragic urgency. Bedding, discarded carpets, and linoleum, anything likely to be of use to destitute families, will be accepted and distributed by the staff where they are most needed. CHILDREN'S OUTING About 600 children of unemployed parents were entertained yesterday at a picnic at Company Bay, the outing having been organised by the mayoress (Mrs R. S. Black), who had the assistance of a large number of voluntary helpers The children wore conveyed free of charge to and from the picnic grounds by the Peninsula Motor Service Company, which also supplied a generous amount of foodstuffs. The weather was excellent, and the children spent a very enjoyable day. A programme of races was arranged, over 200 prizes being distributed among the competitors. Mrs Black wishes to extend thanks to all who helped in the work of organisation, and also those who made donations.

DOWLING STREET DEPOT The following donations are acknowledged by those in charge of the Dowling street depot:—G.L.P., clothing; Mrs Wood, goods; Mrs Sidney Neill, vegetables; Miss Freda Elmes, clothing and shoes; Mrs Quin (Tapanui), meat; Mr Edgar Shand (Kokonga), two carcasses; G.W., £1; Mr Bewes, meat; Mrs John Garrett (Mosgiel), poultny; Mrs J. C. M'George, butter; Mrs J. Wallace, goods; Anonymous, butter; Fort, Roche, meat: Mr A. Bathgate, apples; Wood’s (Cumberland street), bread; Mrs Stewart (Arthur street), bag oatmeal; Miss Auld, goods and flour; D.1.C., two dozen pairs men’s trousers. SPECIAL APPEAL FOR BOOKS The Dowling street depot is making a special and urgent appeal for school books, suitable for the Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools and the Technical School. HUTT HOLD-UP [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 28. The Hutt Valley relief strike situation remains unchanged. No work was" done to-day at Lower Hutt or Petone. Eight men applied at Lower Hutt and were sent to jobs, but about 100 demonstrators persuaded them to leave. At Petone it has been decided that unless twenty men applied none would be taken on, and when only seven applied their services were not accepted. Arrangements were made this morning

by the relief workers of both boroughs for a procession to Wellington on Sat* urday. At a meeting at Petone thia morning the Rev. F. S. Ramson ques* tioned whether the relief workers were); adopting the right tactics, and whether, the Government or anyone else could solve the unemployment problem. A! ballot held on the Khandallah job re* suited againstf'the strike by 25 to ,4* - It is understood, the ballot at the Island Bay job was against the strike by 13 to 6. ' . POSITION AT PORT CHALMERS The fortnightly meeting of the Port Chalmers local Unemployment Com* raittee was held yesterday afternoon* A discussion took place over a circular from the Unemployment Board-points ing out that it was the Unemployment Board’s definite intention that relief!. should not be granted to any unemployed worker who had facilities for vegetable growing (or if such facilw ties were obtainable), and failed to take advantage of them. - It was reported to the committee that several vacant sections were available" in the borough for vegetable growings by relief workers who had no plots d£ their own. The committee decided to! obtain from the Unemployment Board;; a supply of questionnaire sheets to bo issued to every local relief worker, relative to the availability of vegetable plots. The weekly allocations, it was reported, were not sufficient to meet the position brought about largely by the; dearth of shipping at the waterfronts Under these circumstances it was de-“ ciu.,,. to apply for increased allocations.'; Ninety men were employed on relief s work this week, an increase of twenty more than last week.