UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1931, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

HOKITIKA PROPOSALS. [OETB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] HOKITIKA, October 31. A largely attended meeting was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon of representative citizens to discuss schemes for employing men out of work. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), was voted to the chair. A letter on the question of unemployment was read from Mr J. G. Coates, making suggestions for reproductive employment. Mr E. Heenan referred to work re<l uired al the Westland Hospital. The Hospital Board, however, was unable 1.0 provide anything towards the coat. The Mayor asked Mr R. Thomas

(representing the Lands Department) if there were any lands in Westland that could come under the lands referred to by Mr Coates. Mr Thomas said that the Commissioner had asked farmers with heavy financial burdens to state whether they would accept assistance, but there had been very little response. Some thousands of pounds had been speut on the La Fontaine swamp drains, and more might be done there. Mr Ditely, farmer, suggested that the farmers be .allowed to utilize unemployed labour on farms where they might be employed in small contracts. Mr Mackay (Hari Hari), said the Hari Hari branch of the Farmers’ Union were opposed to employing other than farm hands on farm work. Mr Murdoch said he was speaking for himself. He, failed to see what good could come of this gathering. They were told that the Government had 2J millions to spend on unemployment relief. If the Government could not do this work let them get out and some one else have a try. It had been suggested that- farmers should give up say five acres of their farms and allow some unemployed men with a wife and family to occupy these'areas and work them. He imagined the. Koiterangi farmers lushing along to him with their title deeds to give away. What was needed was help for prospecting. Mr McKay rose to a point of order saying that the matter of employment on farm lands was under discussion.

The Chairman upheld the point. Mr McKay moved that, the Minister for Unemployment use his host endeavours to provide funds for farmers desirous of utilising unemployment relief. Mr Jeffries stated that within the past month, Hokitika banks had bought 1150 ounces of gold, and he moved that a systematic scheme ot prospecting be put into force. Mr J. A- Murdoch seconded. He said that every ounce of gold obtained was adding to the wealth ol‘ the country. A miner under the 1891 Act could go out with the total cost of 8/-; now he had to pay £7/9/- before he is permitted to put a pick in the round. It was necessary to bring the scale of charges back to where it was in the days of the late Mr Seddon. The Mayor said that the development of mining would absorb more men than anything he knew of. Mr Baucke also spoke- , The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Murdoch said he wanted to get lid of all the filligree between the making of the application and the granting of right. The question of the Unemployment Board against prospecting was raised and Mr Spiers (Mayor of Kuniara), Mr Murdoch (Mayor of Ross), and Mr N. Warren stated that Mr Bromley had said the Unemployment Board could deal with the applications. Mr Langford said that much of the crouble had been that applications had not been properly lodged. On the suggestion of Mr T. W. Bruce it was resolved that a request be made for a footpath from the Cemetery Hill road to the Westlaud Hospital gates. It was unanimously resolved to form a Prospecting Association in Hokitika on the motion of Mr N. Warren, seconded by Mr R. Whilcy.

Mr T. O’Neil asked that some roads in the Kokatahi-Koiterangi district be completed in the interests of settlement. Mr W. Jamieson referred to the menace of the erosion of the Hokitika River at the Upper Koiterangi end suggested that men be employed constructing protection works. On the motion of Mr M. Keenan (County Chairman) it was resolved that the Mayors of Hokitika, Kumara and Ross. County Chairman, five members from the County, two from Hokitika Borough and one from the other two Boroughs form a prospecting association to deal with mining applications. The question of employing labour to form an aeroplane landing place at South Hokitika was also discussed and is to be further considered.