DUNEDIN'S WORKLESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14109, 10 July 1909, Page 6

DUNEDIN'S WORKLESS.

MANY MEN IDLE.

[by telegram.—press /ssociation.]

Duneisin, Friday. A meeting of unemployed members of the combined building trades unions was held this afternoon in the Trades Hall. About 250 were present, a- large number being comparatively young men. Some of those present, it was afterward:- ascertained, were general Labourers and not connected with the building trades. The first speaker, Mr. W. Warren, proposed a very long motion '-ailing on the Government to take immediate action to bring upon scientific lines the organisation of industries, with the object of ultimately bringing into operation a socialised system of production for universal benefit and not individual profit. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman asked the carpenters present to put up their hands, and about 50 responded. Forty-two held tip their hands as having been out of work for a week, 10 for two weeks, eight for a month. Twenty-eight painters signified they had been out of work for a week, and six for a. month. Twenty-four building trade bo tire and 90 general labourers stated that they were out of work. Further resolutions were passed urging the Government, the City Council, and the Harbour Board, and all local bodies to push on all available work in order to relieve the distress, and expressing regret that the representatives in Parliament should have consented to the prorogation of Parliament. DISTRESS IN NAPIER, [BY TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Napier, Friday. A good start has been made with the raising of a public subscript for the relief of those persons in Napier who are in distress through unemployment. One legal firm has contributed £20, and numerous smaller sums have already been received.

The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P.) will attend at the Borough Council Chambers to-morrow to relieve persons in need. SOUP KITCHEN AT GISBORNE. [BY telegraph—own correspondent;] Gisboune, Friday.' There arc some cases ol destitution in Gisborno through lack of work, chiefly among recent arrivals. To cope with necessitous cases Adjutant Melkeham, of the Salvation Army, has made arrangements, with the help of the borough authorities, by which a plate of warm soup and a piece of bread can be obtained for threepence. Anyone who cannot afford the threepence will be supplied free on representing his predicament to the adjutant of the Salvation Army or borough authorities.

SUPPRESSING STRONG LANGUAGE. [JIY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] CiißisTcntßcn, Friday. Opinions expressed by a number of people in town'to-day regarding some of the state-' ments and threats made by i everal speakers at the meeting of the unemployed on Thursday night were in the direction that something should be done by the proper authorities to make an example of those who use language that may be fairly held to constitute incitement to breaches of the peace. To ignore or overlook somsj of the strong language was held by soma to be almost tantamount to aiding and abetting those who at least suggest recourse to unlawful methods. CITIZENS' RELIEF FUND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Ellington, Friday. Work on the. Victoria College grounds, which are to be prepared for building.?, will commence next "Tuesday, funds being provided from the citizens' unemployed relief fund, subsidised £ for £ by the Government. The citizens* fund now considerably exceeds £400, with promises of further subscriptions. About 300 men have applied for work. The rate of pay will be 8s per day, men to be employed by the week. Preference will be given to bona-fide residents of Wellington, while those having dependents ill receive first consideration.

Collection-boxes will be placed in hotels, and churches will be asked to take up special offerings towards the relief fund. Several entertainments in aid of the fund are likely to be held. The committee has decided that no men who have refused work offered by the Labour Department shall be assisted out of.the relief funds. . Among the subscriptions received to-day was a cheque for £50, from J. Staples and Co. THE POSITION IN AUCKLAND. The poeition in Auckland regarding the unemployed remains the >same, and no change is expected until the weather improves, enabling many large public undertakings to be pushed forward. It is expected that work in connection with the drainage scheme, will be started in earnest within a couple of months' time, and that employment will thus be given for fully 100 men. The Labour Department is endeavouring to do as much as possible in providing work for the 'vorkless in the meantime, and hopes to be able to send 40 men away next week to Gisborne and other railway works. A public meeting is being called by the Trades and Labour Council and others for next week, in order to consider the best means of tiding over this present difficulty. BETTER TIMES COMING. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Industries and Commerce, in a recent statement regarding the unemployed, said that the State was already providing work for some 9000 men on the various public works, and this represented roughly an expenditure of something like three-quar-ters of a million sterling a year. The Government was at the present time straining a point in increasing this large number by giving work to the unemployed, but it might happen in tin; not far distant future that the Dominion would not be able to continue to find work for the number at present employed. The recovery in the volume of export* that was now taking place should, however, he said, increase the development of the country and allow the workers to be employed in the industries of the State or become their own employers.