SCHEME TO REDUCE P.N. UNEMPLOYMENT

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7242, 13 June 1930, Page 8

SCHEME TO REDUCE P.N. UNEMPLOYMENT

Raising a Loan SPECIAL MEETING CALLED FOR THIS AFTERNOON At a meeting of tho Palmerston North Unemployment Committee held yesterday, it was decided to call a special meeting of the Borough Couucii to-day to consider a scheme for tho provision of adequate unemployment relief in tho town and district. A suggestion made at the meeting was that tho borough should apply for a £IOOO unemployment loan and this will probably be considered by to-day’s meeting. According to figures given by the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) 75 married and 37 single men arc registered in the borough as unemployed, tho number of dependents being 107. Eighteen married men and one single man had been placed in employment, the figures now being: Married 57, single 30, dependents OS.

Mr. Graham also stated that 12 additional men would be employed on sewer work in tho borough iu the course of a fortnight, while the council was prepared to subsidise £IOO witn £l5O for special work. In the event of the committee raising £IOO, it would carry a Government £1 for £1 subsidy in addition and would be worth £350. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., said that lie had communicated with the Minister of Public Works in an endeavour to have further men employed by the department in Palmerston North. The Minister was investigating the position and had stated that he would communicate again later. Mr. Hansford suggested that a loan should be raised and a comprehensive scheme to deal with the unemployed, should be carried out, particularly as the Government were offering a subsidy of £2 for £3. The Mayor: The ratepayers previously turned down an unemployment loan in Mr. Nathan’s time. Mr. Hansford: It won’t be turned down if it is explained properly; m any case, what is being done with concrete curbing and channelling " The Mayor: That is reserved for the returned soldiers. Mr. Nash: I agree with Mr. Hansford’s suggestion of raising a loan. The Mayor expressed tho opinion that the only thing to do was to raise an unemployment loan which would place a further burden ou the ratepayers. Mr. A. E. Hansford: The ratepayers arc finding tha money now in various ways. Mr. Graham stated that although lie was reluctant to do so, he was prepared to submit a comprehensive scheme to the council. In the course of further discussion, it was stated that the Labour Social Ciub proposed holding a card evening or. Saturday week, and the Takaro Church, a social gathering on Monday week, the proceeds to bo devoted to the fund. “Belief has to be distributed practically every day,” said Mr. Nash. The Mayor: The Charitable, Aid Beard should do more than it is doing. Mr. Nash: This is an ever-increasing charge and local bodies all over Now’ Zealand arc up in arms. The Mayor: My attitude is that I give what relief I can, but when it gets beyond me I refer tho cases to the Charitable Aid Board. Mr. Mansford: It is not the function of the board to help men out of work. That is a State affair. Mr. F. C. Allcrby was of tho opinion

that the problem was only being fringed at present and that tho borough should undertake an unemployment loan.

Mr. Nash considered that a £IOOO loan would bo sufficient and the Mayor stated that ho was willing to call a special meeting of tho council to consider the raising of this loan. .It was mentioned that tho Kairanga County Council had certain work to bo carried out between Palmerston North, Shannon and Linton, and Mr. Nash stated that he would approach tho chairman of tho County Council as to tho possibilities of using unemployed men in this direction.

It was announced that the proceeds of last Sunday’s unemployment concert had been £33 and that another concert would be held this Sunday to raise further funds. Tho programme will be supplied by well-known artists from other centres aud in this connection an oiler was received from Palmerston North hotel-keepers to board tho participating artists free of charge. A vote of thanks to the hotel-kcepors for this offer was carried.

It was decided to pay £SO out of the funds to the borough for tho laying out of the Campbell street playing area by unemployed labour. Subsequently the Mayor announced that he had called a special meeting of the council for to-day in order to consider a scheme of unemployment relief.