THE CITY’S UNEMPLOYED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 42, 20 January 1931, Page 2

THE CITY’S UNEMPLOYED

FURTHER MEETING HELD. The Union Hall, Rangitikei Street, was packed last evening when members of tho unemployed workers movement gathered to consider the latest developments in the unemployment situation, and to adopt a programme for the immediate future. Late comers could find only standing room, while many overflowed into tho doorway and outside passage, tho attendance being estimated at over 80. Mr L. Sim was elected to the chair.

“YVe saw 30 farmers, got no money and no offer of employment. The only consolation we receivod was tho suggestion, made by several of those whom we interviewed, that it would be better to work for our board without wages than walk the streets.” This was the report of Mr Rainey, who was one of the two men who canvassed portion of the district on Saturday looking for work. The localities visited were Awahuri, Rongotea, Sanson, Glen Oroua and Foxton Line. Mr Sim: That proves that tho crisis affects the country as well as the town. Tho economic current is sweeping everything before it. There were no replies when the chairman asked if anyone present had been refused sustenance when it had been’ applied for.

“There are a lot getting sustenance that shouldn’t, and others not getting it who should,” said one speaker. The chairman: I disagree. I do not think there are many who are deliberately “swinging the lead” like that. A suggestion that a woman should be appointed to canvass tho homes of members of. tho movement to ascertain those in need of sustenance was provocative of discussion.

The acting secretary, Mr Mandeno, said that it was a most difficult position to ask any woman to accept. A motion that the district nurse be approached was defeated, and it was decided unanimously, on the motion of Messrs Mudgway and Rainey, to request the Salvation Army to appoint a lady worker to the position. Mr Mandeno reported having approached the Mayor for permission to hold a street meeting next Saturday and had been assured that such a permit would bo granted provided formal application were made. Therfe was a poor response when an appeal was made hy the chairman for speakers, but ultimately several men sicnified their willingness, including Mr Anderson, a recent arrival in the town.

“This is only the start,” said Mr Anderson, who referred to his association with labour movements in England, America and Australia. . Acting on a suggestion made by tho chairman, it was agreed to forward_a telegram to the chairman of the movement in Wellington expressing sympathy with the demonstration it was proposed to make on the arrival of the Prime Minister in Wellington to-day, and stating that there were between 400 and 500 unemployed men in Palmerston North who were of the same opinion as they were. “Perhaps we can arrange a reception for Mr Forbes when he passes through Palmerston North later on,” said Mr Sim. Tho chairman said that tho demonstrations already held in Ralmerston North had shown the public that the unemployed wero not asleep. It was no crime to bo unemployed, and the members of tho movement must' continue active until, they got what they sought. It was decided to hold a demonstration this morning and wait on the Mayor to reiterate their views. The chairman produced the following petition, inviting those present to add their signatures: “We, the undersigned citizens of New Zealand, are of the opinion that the sentences on nine men imprisoned recently for activities on behalf of the worker aro excessive, and we ask that they bo reduced.” The chairman pointed out that tho credit balance had dwindled from 5s 3d to 2s 3d. It was necessary to send several telegrams, and he appealed for penny subscriptions. Within 30 seconds a pile of pennies, representing 2s 4d, had been thrown on to the table. The meeting then terminated.

SUSTENANCE PAYMENTS.

POSITION OF FLAXWORKERS.

The position of the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in regard to sustenance payments for unemployed flaxworkers was defined by the chairman, Mr Hornblow, at tho meeting of tho board yesterday afternoon. The matter was introduced by Mr Aitchison, who pointed out that statements had been made at a meeting of unemployed in Palmerston North on Friday night that sustenance had been refused by tho board. This statement had been made during a discussion on the flax industry. lbcre appears to bo little prospect of a grant being made as a subsidy to tho flaxworkers,” said Mr Aitchison, “and wo should mako it quite clear that the board is still prepared to judge each caso of distress on its merits.” Tho chairman: After reviewing tho condition of the hemp industry the Arbitration Court decided upon an award wage of 10s a day. Tho position in Foxton is still acute, and though somo of the unemployed have found work with tho Manawatu County Council, and in tar sealing operations, thero are many men who are still workloss. One of the representatives of the unemployed waited on mo and asked whether charitable aid would bo forthcoming if tho mon did not accept tho wages ottered. I replied that I wtuld certainly advise tho board not to grant aid under such circumstances. (Hear, hear.) We canr.ot keep able-bodied men in idleness. Where men aro in distress, they havo been helped, I hopo tho board will endorse this attitude. Mr Hornblow said that somo of the flaxworkers wero prepared to go back, but thero was no flax lor them to handlo. The cutters had been approached by a section of tho unemployed and advised not to go back to work. Thus the mills were held up indefinitely'.'. “This matter concerns us very seriously financially,” stated tho chairman. “The charitablo aid estimate for tho past nine months has already been exceeded by £640, and tho amouiit is increasing. By March 31 it is anticipated that , tho figure will bo £I2OO over tho allocation. Though an Unemployment Board has been formed, we arc not getting tho relief that is needed. The Hospital Board has boon placed in an exceedingly awkward position, and thero appears to bo no chance of balancing tho accounts at tho end of the year. 1 say. emphatically, that every case that has" como under tho notice of tho board has been treated on its merits, and relief has not been stopped.” Mr Moody: I do not for ono minute think that tho Hospital and Charitablo Aid Boards Act meant that able-bodied men should got assistance. The legislature aimed at assisting thoso in unfortunate circumstances. The mon of to-day seem to bo losing. their sense of British independence. I remember the slump of 1881-2, which was worso than this, when men worked at whatever they could get and accepted what wages they wero offered. They wero not spoon fed and had to fight for themselves.

Mr Ryder, who endorsed these remarks, said that the people of to day could not stand on their own feet. Mr Aitchison: The board should decide upon a definite policy and not givo aid to those who refuse work when it is offered to them. “Wo cannot afford to do it. Tho board is ‘up against it’,” said the chairman.Mr Mansford: Tho best part of tho season for farming operations has already

gone, and winter will bo hero before tho Unemployment Board brings dowft a scheme. Tho producers cannot carry too many unemployed on their backs. In my opinion conditions will bo better beforo they are worse. Tho board could very well subsidise the flax industry. The No. 2 scheme, with subsidies for tennis courts and gardens, is wrong from start to finish. Wo should aim at subsidising industries that bring money into tho country. The scheme is economically unsound, as men are tumbling into tho towns. Mr Mansford asked what would bo the position of those flaxworkers who were willing to start work at 10s a day, but were unablo to do so until there was flax cut.

The chairman: We cannot penalise tho men if they cannot get the flax to mill. Each applicant for relief will bo dealt with on his merits. 4 Mr McElroy: I presume that strict inquiries will be made. The chairman: You may bo assured on that point. In moving that tho chairman's action bo endorsed, Mr'McElroy said that it was the duty of tho Government to give local bodies a lead. Farmers were not earning 5s a day.

Mr Howell: They are losing more than 5s a day. Mr Boyce asked whether tho chairman would accept a motion relating to tho salaries of highly placed Government officials. Tho chairman: I am afraid I must rule that out of order. The place to introduce such a motion is at the county council meetiiMrs. Tho moubn endorsing the chairman’s attitudo was carried.

COOKS AND STEWARDS.

UNION’S FUNDS.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 19. The failure of the executive of the Federated Cooks and Stewards’ Union of New Zealand to use some of the union’s accumulated funds for the relief of members was criticised at the half-yearly meeting of the Auckland members.

The statement of receipts and expenditure and the balance-sheet produced at the meeting showed that on December 31 last the union had £1533 in cash in the National Bank and £941 in the Post Office. Investments were valued at £10,887, and the excess of assets over liabilities was shown as £13,393. It was reported that a resolution was passed calling on the executive to make £SOO available for the relief of distressed members, the relief to be made by way of loans, which could be repaid into the union funds, but it was stated that the general secretary, Mr F. Kennedy, had said that nothing could be done. . *

Members said subsequently that there were about 60 cooks and stewards out of work in Auckland. Some of them had families, and others had been compelled to seek shelter in the mission “doss” house.. Union dues were 4s a month, and they considered that the very healthy state of the union’s finances justified them in calling on the executive to provide some money for relief. Pointed reference was also made to a clause in the report dealing with a levy of 2s 6d a member, made in 1925, for reasons given in previous reports, and to the clause’s tag: Ihe time has now arrived when we may have to call on the membership for another similar levy.”

A DIFFERENCE SETTLED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 19. The difference between Mr W. E. Leadley and Mr R. J. Ecroyd, which resulted in blows on a stairway in the City Council buildings, has been amicably settled, according to a statement by Mr Ecroyd to the finance committee of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee this morning. “We are all pleased to hear that,” remarked the chairman, Mr E. H. Andrews.

LABOUR LEADER’S OPINION. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Jan. 19. v That, in view of the financial situation and the serious nature of the unemployment problem, it was imeprative that Parliament should be called together at the earliest possible moment after the return of the Prime Minister, was the opinion of Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, when addressing a meeting of the Westport branch of the Labour _ Party. The Government had failed in the matter of finding work for those who were unemployed, said Mr Holland, and the Unemployment Board’s policy was lackadaisical and inexcusable. It was being pleaded that the board required time in which to get the machinery of its organisation into operation, but he pointed out that tho present Government had had two years 111 which to draft its legislation and prepare its regulations, and there was 110 good rea-son-for any lengthy delay in applying the scheme.

The meeting endorsed Mr Holland’s demand for the meeting of Parliament.

MEN FROM AUSTRALIA. POSITION AGGRAVATED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. The attention of both the Government and the Unemployment Board has been called to the number of men arriving from Australia who are liable to be unable to find work and who will aggravate the unemployment situation. Both Hon. S. G. Smith, who is chairman of the Unemployment Board, and Minister of Immigration, and Hon. J. G. Cobbe, acting Minister of Customs, have been investigating the position, but it appears that the Government is at the moment practically powerless to stop these men from entering the country. Record unemployment registrations were made for the week ended January 12 during which period over 12,000 were on the books of the labour bureaux. In view of the growing number of those out of work and the fact that the unemployment problem is becoming more complicated with each increase recorded, the opinion is held in certain official circles that it is unwise to allow an unlimited number of men to enter the country from Australia unless they are able to give a reasonable guarantee that they will not become a charge on the State at such a difficult time.