Increase In Palmerston Unemployed Ranks

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7296, 5 August 1930, Page 2

Increase In Palmerston Unemployed Ranks

CARIOUS SCHEMES FOR RELIEF. The chairman, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., presided at a mooting of tho Unemployment Committee yesterday. There were also present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. J. Graham), Messrs A. E. Mansford, P. C. Al'l-e-rby and J. Lowden. His Worship reported that there were now 71 unemployed' married men on tho borough register, an increase of 21 over the figures for the previous fortnight. He had not heard fiom sem-o of the men for quite a while and it was possible that they had found work.

The chairman stated that the Unemployment Bill before the House, which was to be considered by a special select committee to hold its first meeting on Wednesday next. It was not possible to say when the committee would be in a position to report to the House as so much evidence would have to be taken, or how the bill would bo received, but one thing was certain and that was that it would be some time before it could be put into effect. The Mayor stated that it -would be possible to ration the work on the reserves but not on the water reticulation, as the efficiency of the gangs would be impaired. There were some 50 men employed on tho reserves. Mr Hansford suggested that 20 of these men, could be replaced fortnightly with men who had been out of work longest. The chairman spoke of the Government’s promise of a subsidy of £IOO,OOO to the Manawatu-Oi'oua River Board. The board, said Mr Nash, proposed to put the work in hand straight away and this would relieve the unemployment situation to a certain extent. The Mayor thought it would be some timo before the board had made the necessary arrangements and that most of the men would be drawn from Foxton. Mr Lowden observed that they would be drawn from Palmerston North also. The chairman thought it would be a long time before the unemployment question was settled and Mr Lowden observed that the situation would not improve much until the prices for primary produce were betteir when farmers would be able to afford to employ labour.