UNEMPLOYMENT "DRIVE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 14

UNEMPLOYMENT "DRIVE"

' gBJICTIYB NOT BEACHED. F_UNO NOW TOTALS £7833," i . ' WESTERN SPRINGS GROUND. AUTHORISATION OF THE WbRK. ! i 'Although the £SOOO " drive,',s planned jn connection / with the Mayor's appeal for funds to provide further relief work for the unemployed, did not reach its objective, • figures . placed . before the Citizens' Committee. yesterday were considered satisfactory. *" The sum of £7853 lias been contributed by the public. Of this, amount the Town Hall list accounts for £6599, and'the M drive " was directly responsible for the balance of £1234, made up as follows: City canvass, incomplete, £610; residential canvass, £464; flower day, £153. It is expected the city canvass will yield at least a further £2OO. Resulting from the propaganda work the sub-committfie which organised the v drive," Mr. P. Crump estimated the Town Hall list had been augmented by about £2OOO, and lie thought that point Should be made clear in case any misconception arose as to the result of the £SOOO appeal, which had really failed by t, comparatively small margin. i* I do not want to juggle with the accounts in order to make the drive look better than it was, but I think all subscriptions received at the Town Hall after the drive sub-comrnittee was set up should be credited to that phase of the appeal, jaid Miss E. Melville. That course was agreed to. ■ . The Western Springs Work. The Mayor, Mr. G- Baildon, said he tonsidered tho total contributions would amount to £9OOO. In addition, a motorcycle carnival' in aid of the fund would be held at Alexandra Park on December 10. The fund was committed to the •stent of £4OOO, and another £SOOO, with a Government subsidy for a similar amount, would enable tlio Western Springs sports arena scheme to be proceeded with. For this work tho funds at present available, in excess of commitments, totalled. £3833, so that a, further £I2OO would be necessary to carry the schemo to completion.

It was " decided to put the Western Springs scheme in hand, tho expenditure «f up to £7OOO being authorised meanwhile.

Mr. Baildon said that-about 200 men were at present engaged on relief work. A pleasing feature was the success of ft numher of men in obtaining other employment, showing Iho relief schemo was aiarving its purpose. "Expenditure to November 4 totalled £2293, according to'the treasurers statements Work at .the Epsom reserve had absorbed £1035; Grey Lynn Park, £700; Point Chevalier sports area, Walker Road, £467; ne\? road in front of•winter garden »t Domain, £B9. A vOte of thanks was . accorded the ladies who had assisted in thq "drive." Visit to Epsom" Reiserve.

Comment on tho inroads made on the appeal by unauthorised collections was made by Mi*. Crump.- Many people tad given to those, collectors, thinking Ihey Were contributing, to the Mayor's Jund, carried a pound for pound iubsidy from the Government. The relief work at the Epsom reserve was later inspected by the Mayor and several members of. th,e committee. Good progress ha? been mado since the committee's last visit about two months ago. The area, now levelled, was formerly Extremely rough and. many of the huge lock formations have had to be removed by explosives. One of these "shots" •tvas witnessed by the committee. Tha effect as the rock was torn assunder and turtled 30 feet into the" air was highly spectacular. The relief works at the winter garden and in front of the war Inemorial museum were also inspected.

TOWN HALL LIST, 'ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS. . • r-i'i »* "»'• " -- - 71. . The following contributions were received at the Town Hall yesterday:— Previously acknowledged ..£6573 2 4 ~£ s d Employees' of Walter Buchanan, Ltd. . . , . 12 11 6 Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd., employees (weekly contribution) . , 12 6 0 Employees of T. Woods . 3 0 0 Anon , * n v-■ 2 6 -• • • £5601 2 4