UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT

* DOWLING STREET DEPOT QUESTION TO HOSPITAL BOARD At the meeting of the Hospital Board last night Mr Boss asked if, when the mayor’s depot was reopened at St. Andrew street early in March, the Dowling street emergency office of the board would be closed. The Secretary replied that the board had agreed to continue the depot for six weeks, and it would be closed about the time of the opening of the St. Andrew street depot. It was anticipated that some proposals of the Government in the next fortnight would do away with the necessity for the emergency depot., DEMONSTRATION YESTERDAY SPEECHES AT QUEEN'S GARDENS After the march through the streets yesterday the procession of unemployed proceeded to the Queen’s Gardens, where addresses were given. Over 200 took part in the procession, and at the Queen’s Gardens a crowd of about a thousand, including many employed as well as unemployed, listened to the speeches. The principal speaker I was Mr T. West, president of the Christchurch Unemployed Association, who pointed out’ that yesterday was International Unemployment Day, a day set aside for mass demonstrations by the unemployed throughout the world. For the first time the day was being observed in New Zealand, and demonstrations were being held in all the main centres. Mr West contended that it was the duty of the State to provide work or maintenance. The capitalistic system was responsible for the present state of affairs, and the only way in which a remedy could be provided was by the united effort of the unemployed, the small business man, the workers, the small farmers, and, in fact, everyone who had suffered by the depression. After several others had addressed the gathering the following resolutions were carried:— (1) “ That this meeting of employed and unemployed calls upon, the Government immediately to institute a State food relief fund to provide a 100 per cent, increase on the present basis of hospital boards’ rationing. We consider that the obligation of providing food is pot the function of the hospital boards; it is the Government’s duty to decentralise the administration to the Labour Department. Further, it is obligatory on the Government to attend to the wants of the people to pro-vide-full maintenance and the necessities of life, and not the duty of the citizens of the State. (2) “ That this meeting urges all employed and unemployed workers immediately to form an effective combination to resist the threatened further attacks on wages and conditions, and prevent the carrying out of the threat by the Unemployment Board to lower in a wholesale manner the condition of relief works. We pledge ourselves to unite with the workers of the whole of New Zealand in the struggle for living conditions for all sections of the working class. (3) “ That this mass meeting of the workers of Dunedin demands that eviction of unemployed workers must cease. It insists on the right of every man willing to take part in production to the shelter of a home for himself, his wife, and children, and demands that in tne coming session of Parliament a measure be passed recognising this fundamental need. “That.this meeting makes an emphatic protest against the sentences passed on our comrades involved in the recent demonstration of hungry men and women for food, and in the case of Mr Braithwaite demands his immediate release, and that of all comrades convicted for their working class activities.’^ The singing of ‘ The Red Flag ’ by those who knew the words, and cheers for the unemployed workers’ movement and Mr [West brought the meeting to a close. CITIZENS' DEPOT CLOSED The last distribution of relief under the auspices of the Citizens’ Relief Committee took place on Wednesday, when 400 families received supplies. It had been hoped that week-end relief could be given to-day, but the resources of the depot are quite exhausted, the supervisor (Mr J. H. Hinton) stating that it was hoped the collection at yesterday’s demonstration would be sufficient to pay all accounts owing. * The mayor’s depot opens on March 6, but Mr Hinton stated that, owing to lack of funds, the citizens’ relief depot was unable to bridge the gap in the time that will elapse until then. This week’s donations are acknowledged as under:—W. E, Marshall (Momona), one sheep; Mrs W. R. Hudson, one sheep; T. King, G. J. Smith, Bartons’, Duke’s and staff, meat; J. R. Brown, J. Brown, Abbott’s, bread; F. Tanner, 25 loaves and 251 b butter; Ernest Adams, cake and 70 sugar; Aulsebrook and Co. (weekly donation), biscuits; Stewart’s Ltd., four cases smoked fish; D. G. Gunn (Roxburgh), seven cases apricots; Lovell’s, eight cases fruit; Fraser and Co., two sacks potatoes; “Friend,” three sacks potatoes; “ Country Cousin,” clothes; M'Dowall, Coulls, Somerville, and Wilkie, Glenomaru and Otekura children, vegetables; collected at Carisbrook, £1 10s 9d. ' PORT CHALMERS COMMITTEE Eight of its members attended the fortnightly meeting of the Unemployment Committee yesterday afternoon. The mayor (Mr J. Watson) presided. In discussing a circular from the Unemployment Commissioner in regard to vegetable plots, the Chairman stated that all the unemployed had been circularised in Port Chalmers, and the replies, which would be dealt with at the following meeting, showed that the scheme was regarded favourably by the relief workers. The allocations, it was announced, had been further reduced by the Unemployment Board, and for next week would only amount to £l3O. The number of relief workers was meanwhile increasing, and now amounted to 300. The question of rationing the work was discussed. A member of the committee said that single men could not be cut out altogether, for they, too, had to live. The Chairman, in referring to the work available for the relief workers, said that Mussel Bay was likely to be reclaimed soon, in which case there would be drainage work to bo done, and that would provide employment for a number of relief workers. While an application, foir relief .work

which had been referred to the committee was being considered it transpired that the applicant owned a motor car and a motor launch._ Both, it was stated in the discussion which took place, were probably of little value, and were perhaps oh that account unsaleable., AN IDEAL CAMP FOR SINGLE MEN AT WAITATi Mr R. Poison, of Sawyers Bay, established at Waitati under 4a unemployment scheme a camp for single men at the beginning of this year. Nine young men are in the camp, which is in charge 'of Mr Poison’s son. The lads are doing good work at clearing land, and the founder of the camp appreciates the way they have worked. _ They are provided with accommodation, tools, and food, the latter including milk, butter, cream, and vegetables. Mr Poison is inclined to offer the camp to any committee who would utilise it for providing food for the unemployed. “ It is an ideal camp,” Mr J. Watson (Mayor of Port Chalmers) stated at the close of a meeting, yesterday afternoon.: The young men were happy and contented. _ They were doing useful work in clearing land that had been overrun with manuka and other growth and making it,productive. Mr Watson con-' sidered that this was an object lesson to farmers, who should take advantage of the good opportunity afforded by 4a scheme and get their lands cleared,; That would mean increased production, and increased production, which meant more money coming into the country, was what was most needed to bring the country through the present depression, THE MAYOR'S DEPOT Tlie Mayor’s Relief ’Depot in St/ Andrew street is to be opened on Mon- 1 day week, and to a ‘Star’ reporter, this morning the Mayor (Mr R. S.Black) stated that he considered it would take at least £5,000 to tide over the situation in regard to the relief of distress during the coming winter. Mr Black stated that last year the amount that had been expended on relief was £3,500, and in addition IjOOO sheep had been brought from Well.ugton free of charge while the pound-a-week scheme had also assisted greatly,. Mr Black eaid that he desired to urge upon the people the need to assist all those who were passing through times of stress. The Mayoress was at present busy organising the pound-a-week scheme. - Messrs McSkimming and Son Ltd.consigned to the Mayor’s Relief Depot three barrels containing three gross of jam jars, £Tid the Mayor asks that those who are willing to fill these jars for distribution to the unemployed during tho winter should obtain them as soon as possible. TREE PLANTING OFFER OF STATE FOREST SERVICE The Reserves Committee of tho City, Council reports that advice has been received from the Commissioner of Unemployment that tho State Forest Service has a considerable surplus of tree stocks and that supplies from such surplus will be made available to local bodies as the Unemployment Board directs. The trees are offered on payment of lifting, packing, and freight charges only, and on the condition that the local bodies concerned organise a programme, for the utilisation of unemployed labour in preparing the ground and planting the trees. It is believed that it will be possible to take advantage of this offer, and instructions have accordingly been given for an order of 250,000 pinus ponderosa seedlings. Proposals for utilising relief labour in connection with tho scheme are being prepared by tho superintendent of reserves,and will be dealt with at the earliest possible date,;