FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 3

FEILDING

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

The Fcilding Unemployment Committee met yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) presiding. Also present were Rev. Canon F. H. Petrie, Messrs Campbell, Oliver, Byrne, Guy, Watson, Hay, Harding, Clifford (certifying olfieer), Smith and McLean. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. S. Tingey.

Mr Clifford reported that the registrations for tho past four weeks were as follow: —Week ending August 29,188; August 27, 185; September 3, 182; September 10, 176. The Unemployment Board wrote setting out particulars of tire amendments in tho basic daily rate of wages to relief workers to 7s 6d for single men and 10s per day for married men. Tho present weekly monetary ration would remain unchanged, but tho now classifiactions in regard to rates of pay and hours to bo workod would become operative on September 19. The Mayor stated that it was on account of tho above circular letter that ho had called the committee together instead of only tho executive. The position, required an immediate decision, Mr Taylor added, stating that it meant that everybody would huve to work longer hours for the money. On receipt of the lettor the speaker had referred tho matter to Mr Byrne, representative of the relief workers on the committee, for consideration by tho men as to whether they would desire to take their work in three weeks or work their time out in four weeks. “The men were almost unanimous jn their decision to take their work in three weeks,” Mr Byrne interposed. Mr Taylor went on to detail what tire proposed alterations meant to the relief workers, and invited members of tho committee to state their views. “I suppose we cannot do anything else but what the letter sets out,” remarked Ilev. Mr Copeland. “There is no way of protesting against the 10s payment?” queried Mr Oliver. “We cannot protest to ourselves as a committee, but if the men want to air their views on tho subject they could meet Hon. J. G. Cobbe some Saturday morning,” the Mayor replied. “I hope that we will not get to a position in the matter where we will threaten to resign.” Mr Byrne stated that so far as the men wero concerned they were more or less resigned to the position. Mr Byrne personally thought tho move was condemning a relief worker to relief work for all time. Mr Oliver protested against the lowering of the basic wage rate, but Mr Campbell pointed out that there were many jobs offering in the country at even l(Js per week, which the men could take.

The Mayor said he had also come to the view that the “over the fence scheme was infinitely better for all. In the country there was a chance of tho work done being productive. The committee briefly discussed various aspects of the position, following which Rev. Mr Copeland moved that the three weeks’ scheme with a “stand down” week be adopted to conform to tho wishes of the men. Mr Guy seconded the motion. Mr Smith asked why the men wished to take their work in three weeks, Mr Byrne replying that it was in order that they may look for work in the “off” week.

Canon Petrie pointed out that the weakness of the scheme was that about 200 men would bo idle in the one week and one inevitable result would bo that the Fcilding Relief Committee would have a big rush of men to deal with in that period. The Mayor said that with casual work offering all the men would not he out of work and with the pushing on with tho “over tho fence” scheme, men should be taken out of town. In regard to this scheme, tho Mayor thought tho farmers who were able to should take advantage of the opportunity offering to have developmental work done on their farms at tho expense of the Unemployment Board.

Mr Campbell agreed with this view, stating that the farmer would either have to do this or go without relief labour.

Replying to Canon Petrie, the Mayor said that if it came about that tho “stand-down” week became such that the Relief Committee could not manage its work, tho committee would review the position again. Mr Campbell suggested that it would be a good idea if anyone who had casual work offering would reserve it till the “stand-down” week, which would commence on October 8 and end on October 15. The motion was carried.

The Mayor announced that ho intended to endeavour to obtain an assurance front the Unemployment Board that any increase in the number of unemployed in Fcilding would bo met with an increased griint immediately. The meeting then went into' committee to consider applications for labour.

COMMITTEE REPORT

LATER INFOR MAT lOX

After the meeting had dispersed Mr Harding, secretary of the committee, got in touch with the Unemployment Board in Wellington to acquaint them of the Feilding committee’s decision and was informed that the proposal would not fit in with the board’s requirements, and if the Feilding committee insisted on adhering to its decision it would mean that its allocation would have to lie restricted.

Oil hearing the explanation of the board, Mr Harding states that the board will provide an allocation enabling the men to get full time for the next two weeks on the understanding that tho “stand-down” week will commence on October 3. On behalf of the committee Mr Harding accejited the offer of the board, the agreement later being confirmed by the Mayor.

DISTRICT NURSE ASSOCIATION

Rev. Canon. F. H. Petrie presided at the annual meeting of the Feilding District Nurse Association on Wednesday night. Tho annual report stated that Sister Smith had pa.id 3518 visits to sick patients and paid welfare visits to cases of distress, delivering food, clothing, etc. She had also paid monthly visits to the Maori pas in the Oroua district. A visit was paid to the committee by the chairman and the secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, when the association were informed that, in accordance with instructions received from the Health Department, in future patients attended by the local district nurse would be charged fees when in a position to pay. The work of the committee had been enlarged to a great extent by having had to take over the relief of local distress. In this they lia.d been fortunate in having tho assistance of Messrs T. Collins, Kilvingtin, Irving, Byrno and Christensen, also Mesdames Kilvington, Spence, Crabtree and Miss Watts. Thanks to the efforts of the local Unemployment Committee, the association were fortunate in getting from the Unemployment Board a weekly grant towards the relief of distress, this to be especially applicable to distress among women. As a. result of two special efforts tlie as-

sociation were successful m collecting a good supply of clothes for distribution, and also in raising a sum or money which enabled them to provide food for necessitous cases throughout the winter, , . , , “Wo wish to thank all who assisted towards the success of these two efforts. Our annual District Nurse day was again a great success. We are extremely grateful to the many donors whose' help enables us to carry on our work. In this connection we wish specially to thank Messrs Dodder and Tolley, Ltd. To Mr A. J. Geary, for auditing our books free of charge, we are deeply indebted. To the Borough Council for the use of the meeting room and to the Press thanks are due. Sister Smith has dono her work to the complete satisfaction of the committee, and numerous letters of appreciation have been received from grateful patients. Christmas and Now Year cheer was distributed to about 70 families.” In moving the adoption of the report the chairman said the regulation regarding the charging of fees to those patients visited by the District Nurse was not a new one. The association knew of the regulation when they engaged the nurse, but they were informed at the time that the regulation was not in force and Feilding need not concern itself about it. They had gone on till this year, when the Health Department informed the Palmerston North Hospital Board that the regulation must be put into operation. The Hospital Board had no option but to put the regulation in force. Further, said Canon Petrie, when the chairman and the secretary of the Hospital Board visited the committee they distinctly stated, that before any accounts were sent to patients of the District Nurse, they would be sent to tlio committee for perusal, and for comment, but this had not been done. Accounts had been sent out to patients without any reference to the committee. This, added Canon Petrie, was a distinct breach of the promise made to the committee and Canon Petrie resented this. The meeting discussed the point briefly, following which it was left to Mr Smith, the Feilding representative on the Hospital Board, to lay tlio matter before the board.

The Mayor (Mr Taylor) congratulated the association on the good work it was doing for those in need and paid a special tribute to the efforts of Sister Smith whose work Mr Taylor described as wonderful. On the motion of Canon Petrie, the Mayor was elected, patron of the association. Canon Petrie was re-elected chairman, Mr Goldsmith lion, treasurer, and Mrs Stalker secretary. The old committee was re-elected. Canon Petri© mentioned that there were several ladies and gentlemen who wero associated with the committee in distributing distress relief, and he thought these ladies and gentlemen should be included in it. The meeting agreed to the proposal and elected the new members. The meeting thanked Sister Smith for her work.