THE UNEMPLOYED

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6153, 10 August 1921, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED

NO ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT. ,

LOCAL , BODIES MUST' MEET POSITION.

In connection with the unemployed problem in Gisborne, the Mayor, after receiving a list of those out of work from Mr C. E. Bickford, on Monday forwarded the following telegram to the Acting Prime Minister (Sir Francis Bell) : There are a large number of unemployed in Gisborne- I have been t furnished with 311 authentic list giving addresses and., dependants. This shows 237- cases of unemployment, many urgent. I suggest your endeavour to arrange for relief works to assist, and to alleviate distress.”

Yesterday, Mr Wildish received the following reply:—

In reply to your telegram, the Government is already employing as many men as its funds permit,' and has strained its finances to the utmost. Local authorities must meet the position by using local funds to find work for local unemployed. %

DISCUSSION ON LOAN WORKS. ORMOND ROAD TRAM-LINES. WILL THERE BE ENOUGH MONEY FOR CARS? A discussion on unemployment and work in connection with the new loans brought forth some interesting information at the Borough Council last evening. Or. Bickford said he noticed that the Mayor had received a telegram from the Acting Prime Minister, to the effect that local bodies’ should endeavour to assist the unemployed. He asked if it were not possible to get some money in advance and get on with the work. Ormond road work he understood was planned in conjunction with the bridge, but the proposed work oh other sections might be gone on with. If it was proposed to spend all the money in 1 hand on Ormond road it would be useless to go further. The Mayor: That is the position. Cr. Bickford said it appeared to him that the Council would soon have to deal with the unemployed. It was possible that, in a month’s time, the position would be acute. The Council might have to call a special meeting to deal with the matter. Some 257 names of men out of work had been handed in to the Mayor, but the thought there were 400 men w'ho could do with work. The Mayor , said that, while in Wellington,' he would place the facts before the proper authorities. Cr. Coleman said that, with the £17,000 already in hand, they could do Ormond road. It might not be convenient, .hut convenience could not always be studied. The Mayor said they would begin work when they got the money. Cr Coleman: But it will be January before we get it. The Mayor: We can arrange woth the hank to advance the money. Cr Coleman: Wouldn’t it be better to go straight 011 with the work? The Mayor: We- will as soon as we get the tenders in. Ci- Coleman: It will be months .) before we can go on with the bridge. The Mayor: I want to see what the work will cost. Ci-. Coleman: What is there to prevent you going on with Ormond road and the tramway irrespective of the bridge. We have £17,000 now. The Mayor: But that is only for the trams. We haven’t got the money for the road. The two mustgo together. If I get the money I can substitute some date for January fpr the first instalment. Cr Bowie said the Finance committee had met and had realised the urgency of. the unemployment. That was the reason the Council had asked the Mayor to go to Wellington on the matter. Cr. Todd agreed that the Major should he authorised to get the money even at extra cost. The Mayor said that when lie had secured the money the Council could meet and discuss the tenders. 111 answer to a question the engineer said they could not separatethe Ormond road and the tram. The tender of course would he split up. Cr Ball: I would like the estimate -for putting down the tramline in Ormond road to the Borough 'boundary. The Engineer: You will have practically nothing left for the cars. Jt will he two years before you want the cars. Cr. Ball: I don’t think the public realise that when we put the tramlines to Mangapapa we will have no money for a car. The Mayor: I think we will have enough for one car. Cr B^ll: The public think we have enough money to put down the lines to Mangapapa and buy rolling stock, but we haven’t. The Mayor repeated that, if the money were granted, he would call the Council together and go into the whole question.