UNEMPLOYMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 141, 29 May 1928, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT

EFFORT TO RELIEVE POSITION NAPIER COUNCIL TO APPLY FOR LOAN. PROGRAMME OF WORK. In order that certain works may be put in hand to relieve unemployment an early application for a loan is to be made by the Napier Borough Council to the Government Loans Board. The principal works that the Council proposes to undertake are Napier Terrace and Lawrence road from the Cemetery gates to the Hospital, £loO>, and the formation of a road round the lagoon at the Port connecting up the ends of Battery road with Hyderabad l road, £lll5, with an additional £4OO for metalling. The Mayor pointed out that both works would involve 70 per cent, of labour, which enabled the approval of a loan being sought. Or, P. Higgins, in referring to the second proposal, stated that if the Council was going to do any roading that would be of benefit to the Napier Harbour Board they should hesitate. The latter body might make a contribution if approached. The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown) did not hold out any hope of that, and stated that someone would benefit if the work was carried out. Cr. C. H. Wilkie pointed out that the matter, at the last meeting, was referred to the Finance Committee.

The Mayor, in reply, stated that the Council was now asking the Government to give them the money. Cr. J. C. Bryant suggested that an urgent meeting should be called to deal with the matter. After further discussion the Council went into committee to consider the action to be taken in regard to raising a loan. The estimates of the borough engineer (Mr. G. F. Clapcott) of the costs of the work for the unemployed totalled 1 £4415, which will include kerbing and channelling George’s Drive, £1108; levelling up road flanks, grassing and planting in Vigor Brown, McVay, and Carnell street, and Nelson Crescent £360; formation of .road l round the lagoon at the Port, £1115; Napier Terrace, road widening, £1000; and slabmaking for Madiera Steps, £320. UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS. The Council decided to again assist unemployed returned soldiers by putting on special work and employing them on the basis that the Association pays one half of the wages paid to them. This will mean in effect that the Council would be paying £i for every £1 contributed by the Association. The Council was advised by Mr. John Mason, AI.P., that the Association at present had in hand about £l5O. As on former occasions the' Association proposes to nominate for employment only those returned'men who are out of employment and have dependents. As the money is a voluntary contribution it should carry with it the Government subsidy of £1 for £1 which is payable in respect of all voluntary contributions for relief of unemployment where work is undertaken which is not included in any schedule of works already proposed by the Council. In addition to the above sum the Association hopes that a further sum will be available from the Canteen Fund.