PLIGHT OF WORKLESS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1930, Page 2

PLIGHT OF WORKLESS

■SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND SUGGESTED.

AUCKLAND. Sept, 24

“Tile position in Auckland is nothing short of a tragedy,” said Mr William Wallace thin morning to a correspondent of the “Times” when dismissing the problem of dealing with the unemployment. As chairmon of the Auckland Hospital Board Mr Wallace telegraphed to Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., who is also a member of the hoard, and the result was the urgent question put to the Acting; Prime Mi ninter in the House last night. The Acting Prime Minister stated that arrangements were in hand for placing, a; large number of men in work in Auckland. “Usually, at this time of year, things are beginning to -brighten up,” said Mr Wallace, “but this year though the winter is over and gone, the number of unemployed is increasing instead of decreasing. “Last night I paid a visit, to the night, shelter of the Auckland City Mission, commonly known as the ‘dais houseand I was much distressed. The organiser, Mr Bare Clark, showed nie round and I was particularly struck with the type of men occupying the beds. There was none of the dead beat class iubntit any of the 145 men I saw housed there lust night by half past eight; and fully 130 of them would be lit for any class of work, One man with whom 1 waft talking said, ‘Don’t you, think, Mr Wallace, that the solution of the difficulty is to put us on the land?’ 1 said, ‘Undoubtedly.’ That incident showed the class o" men hit by tin's terrible unemployment. There is nothing of the down and out about them.

“As indicating the sort of man who is now out of work in Auckland, I niust mention a conversation T. had with one of the men at the shelter. He mentioned casually that he walked to Wellington and hack looking for work. 'What,’ J. said. ‘do you mean to tell ins you padded the liooi ? ‘Yes,” replied the man, ‘I padded the- boot the whole way there and back, getting a clay’s work here and there if my luck was in.’