A NATIONAL ANGLE

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1935, Page 3

A NATIONAL ANGLE

APPROACH TO UNEMPLOMENT PROBLEM

STATE’S MAJOR SCHEMES

C Special to "Northern Advocate”! AUCKLAND, This Day.

A resolution “reaffirming the desirability of major schemes absorbing large, numbers of unemployed being put in hand by the Public Works Department at standard rates of pay” was passed by over 100 representatives of local bodies in and around Auckland at a conference held in the Town Hall. The meeting had been called by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, for the primary purposes of hearing an explanation of the proposed Auckland metropolitan drainage scheme.

In the resolution the representatives of the local bodies pledged themselves to do all in their power to assist in the carrying out of such schemes, and affirmed that at least 20 per cent should be added to the rates of those on sustenance during winter months. The matter arose from the receipt of a resolution along similar lines, which, however, suggested that if necessary the wages tax should be increased from lOd to 1/- in the pound, passed by a conference in Christchurch. At that conference local bodies, the churches, employers and employees’ organisations and returned soldiers were present. The Mayor said this Christchurch resolution had been considered by the City Council’s finance and employment committee. He then moved the resolutioh which .was subsequently carried.

A delegate stated that the executive of the Municipal Association had resolved to support the Christchurch resolution, and had presented it to the Minister of Employment on June 15. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. B. Martin/ who seconded the Mayor’s motion, said that he agreed with the manifesto issued by some of the Anglican clergy of Auckland. He declared that the unemployment problem should be approached from a national angle, and local bodies should then be called on to play their part. The present purpose was to make representations to the Government along these lines. The motion was then carried unanimously.