UNEMPLOYMENT.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 101, 30 August 1933, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

R.S.A. RELIEF SCHEME. PUKEKOHE BRANCH OPERATIONS. The operations of the Pukekohe brand] of the Returned Soldiers' Association, as far as the association's unemployment relief scheme is concerned, were detailed by the chairman, Mr F. A. Hosking, at the annual reunion of the branch on Saturday evening. Mr Hosking in the first place explained that under an amendment of the constitution of the Franklin association, the Pukekohe members formed themselves into a separate branch and almost immediately the branch committee was called on to conduct a soldiers' unemployment relief scheme brought down by the president, Mr S. P. Day. The committee's first duty was to set about raising funds and ever since it had more or less concentrated on this all important phase of activities. The Pukekohe branch had had an average of 1-i on its unemployed register and up to Friday last the scheme had been in operation 11 weeks—it would close definitely on September 2. During the 11 weeks the branch had paid out £ll3 in wages, and Mr Hosking said he was pleased to be able to inform members that the scheme had cost the association practically nothing. The profit from functions held in and around Pukekohe during the past three months was over £IOO, and all would agree that that was a mighty good result. Collections from employers was a shade over £SO and in all about £156 had been collected. Mr Hosking said he was sure members generally would admit that the committee had not been idle. The necessity of collecting money so urgent that the committee had decided to postpone the reunion because its first job was to see that unemployed ex-soldiers, their wives and families were cared for during the winter months. "Good Spin from the Public." "We have had a good spin from the public of Pukekohe I can assure you," said Mr Hosking. "Functions have been well attended and money has been given freely. One of the reasons for such a spontaneous response to the association's appeal was that the public knew that the whole of the funds subscribed would be expended on the alleviation of distress among exsoldiers. Nothing had been taken from the funds for administration purposes. Every penny collected had been spent in the direction for which it had been raised. The Buckland members had raised £ls and the Puni diggers were holding a function on September 8, to which all were cordially invited. I desire to remind all of the ball to be held at Onewhero on September 6, when a feature will be the supper, comprising turkeys, hams, sucking pigs, all of which had been donated by the Onewhero people. The public had been wonderful and were ever ready to assist us. At the cabarets held at Pukekohe the ladies had donated 90 per cent of the supper. Why? Because they knew that the whole of the proceeds would go toward helping unfortunate unemployed diggers. We are deeply grateful to the public for its unbounded assistance," added Mr Hosking. Working for the R.S.A.

Continuing, Mr Hosking expressed his deepest thanks to the member for Franklin, Mr .1. N. Massey, who had done wonderful work for the R.S.A. Only those closely connected with the association knew the amount of work and the nature of it, that Mr Massey had done. He had had many calls on his time, but he had responded every time and above all in many cases a great amount of success had resulted. To Mr G. T. Parvin, Franklin's representative on the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr Hosking expressed the association's appreciation of what this real live wire had been able to do. 'He has discharged his duties wonderfully, and sincere thank's are due to Mr Parvin." added the speaker. "One of the Pukekohe branch members, Mr S. P. Day, who, as you all know, is the president of the Franklin Association, received well deserved promotion in being elected Auckland Provincial vice-president of the New Zealand Association, in place of General Sir George Richardson. . The honour was not only a reward to Mr Day for his services to the association but a compliment to the Franklin association and the Pukekohe branch. Mr Day has been a good general in your interests." said Mr Hosking amid applause. 1000 Members Wanted. Proceeding, Mr Hosking said the ; membership roll of the Pukekohe ! branch stood at 170 and he appealed to members to link up those ex-sol-diers who were detached. Rope them all in. the more the merier. Pukekohe now enjoyed the distinction of being the biggest branch. There were over GOO members linked up with Hie Franklin association and he hoped that next year they would be able to pass the 1000 mark. "T would ask you all to help in enrolling new members." concluded Mr Hosking.