THE UNEMPLOYED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 December 1932, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED

WORK OF GARDENING SUB-COMMITTEE

SPLENDID RESULTS ACHIEVED THE PLOTS INSPECTED Working quietly but enthusiastically the Gardening sub-Committeo of the Nelson Local Unemployment Committee Inis achieved splendid results during the few months it has been in existence. The siih-Committee was formed and held its first meeting oil the 14th March. 1932. Mr P. (A Hurst was appointed chairman, and the Committee consisted of the following: Messrs C. Milner, A. G. Best and J. Bruce. The Committee immediately commenced to make arrangements for the supply of seeds, vegetable plants and manure, to relief workers, also to make inquiries regarding suitable land for vegetable growing. Up to the end of June, 258 packets of seeds, 8,000 cabbage plants, 7,000 onion plants, and a quantity of manure, lime, oats and lupins were distributed free of cost to the unemployed. A decision was arrived at to organise a large distribution for spring and summer planting, the distribution commencing on the 22nd July and ending on the Bth December, 1932, during which period the following were given out: —13 sacks seed potatoes equals 3 tons; 298 hags fertiliser, each equals 1 Gilts; 391 hags lime, each equals 4 bushel: 2244 packets vegetable seeds; 3,00(1 lettuce plants; 12,000 cabbage plants; 50,700 onion plants. The issue <o each'mail for spring and summer planting was as follows:8 packets vegetable seeds, 281 b seed potatoes, 101 b fertiliser; -A bushel burnt lime; onion plants; cabbage plants; lettuce plants. The value of the above retail, was 8s Oil, tlie men being charged 2s for the lot. Arrangements were also made for the men to get any portion of the above at reduced rates. The cost of this has been £O3 9s Gd, less amount refunded by the men £35 4s Oil, leaving the actual cost to the committee £2B ss.

The men who had insufficient ground at their homes have taken up 35 garden allotments. Approximately 550 gardens have been visited, and the supervisors (Messrs Conradi and Mawliinney) express themselves as very satisfied with the work done. A number of the men have secured allotments privately, and are making good use of them. The Committee desires to thank those relief workers who supplied the depot with vegetable plants for distribution, also all those citizens who assisted the Committee in various wavs.

A visit to the various allotments and also to a number of private gardens was pa id yesterday by the chairman of the Unemployment Committee and several members, who expressed themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the manner in which the men co-operated with the Committee to make the scheme a success.

Those making the visit consisted of -Messrs G. L. Rage (chairman), W. J. Moli'att (Mayor of Nelson) and M. Ross (secretary of the Labour Department), and were taken by Mr Hurst a tour of inspection of a number of the plots. Mr Conradi was also present. What was seen gave ample evidence of the wonderful results achieved. In some eases every inch of available space has been utilised, and led one of the party to remark that they "had the Chinamen beat.” Potatoes, onions, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, beet, peas, . beans, pumpkins, marrows—in fact every class of vegetable—were found to be growing in abundance, and the, majority of the plots were spick and span. It is to the credit of some of the men that although they had had no previous experience of gardening, quite good results lmd been obtained. Apart from the psychological ell'eet of having their spare time usefully employed, the men will have ample supplies of vegetables for mun v months to come.

In (piite a number of instances the men have cultivated their own plots; but where no ground was available about the homes, land has been willingly lent free by the owners.

The plots are distributed over the whole of the city and the Committee keeps a careful record of each plot, what it contains, and in what state it is being kept. The result of the inspection affords a striking example of the fact that the men are doing something to help themselves. The Committee is to be warmly congratulated on its work; also the unemployed who have so well responded to the efforts of the Committee.