BOROUGH COUNCIL EFFORT TO ASSIST UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 29, 11 December 1930, Page 9

BOROUGH COUNCIL EFFORT TO ASSIST UNEMPLOYMENT.

A special meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held last week to consider two schemes outlined by the Mayor to give immediate work to . the unemployed men in the borough so that acute .distress "could be relieved befo.ro Christmas. The Mayor said that 247 married men had been unemployed in the borought, but 33 of them had -got work outside, leaving 214. Of these, 107 had already had some work, but there were still 107, many of whom, had -had no work for months. The Unemployment Board had expressed a desire that all ■married men should have at least 14 days' work before Christmas.. The first scheme he outlined was. that foxfilling in the swampy land near the Awamutu Stream.; , The conference of engineers had reported that this would cost £3300. The council had considered that the proposal of the Government, that the council should find £800 for this work, was not acceptable, as the -woTk was very largely a Government responsibility. The Government had now offered to find £2930 if the council ;would find £400. It was his opinion that the council sh-O-uld aeeept this offer, which would employ 20 men for. some weeks. ; The second scheme was that the ihor■OTVgh should .have a clean-up of its streets for Christmas by removing the grass and doing certain open dtain cleaning' and work at the rubbish tip —work which would not thave been undertaken otherwise. The estimated cost | of this work was £1500. j After considering the matter the council unanimously agreed to the pro posals, and' as a result immediate applir cation will be made for the money, and, iifit is approved,by the Unemployment Board, sonic men. will be put on immediately. The only men who will fbe employed are local men who have dependants and who have not (had permanent -work prior to Ist December, preference being given to those who have been out of work for the longest period. .