UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19981, 25 June 1928, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. COUNCIL SCHEME IN VIEW. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. " There is more want in the city this year than I have ever seen before," said Ensign Newton, of the Salvation Army, yesterday. "There are some families who have been practically without money throughout the summer and winter. We do the best we can for them. We can give food, but we have not sufficient clothing. Several mothers have told me they could not send their children to school because they did not have sufficient clothes. "There arc men who are lazy and men who are not good workers, but there are also men who are in the ranks of the unemployed because they are unfortunate." Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., chairman of the executive of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee, and of the Finance Committee of the City Council, said the council's contribution toward unemployment would be about £6OOO. If the public found £6OOO in subscriptions, it would, with the Government subsidy, make about £IB,OOO worth of work available. It is expected that the river boulevard scheme will be commenced this week, and this should absorb a good number of unemployed once it gets under way.

WORKLESS IN DITNEDIN. MEN SEEKING RELIEF. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Sunday. There seems to be a common belief that this winter the distress in Dunedin is iess acute than usual. Against this is a statement by the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, who says he never knew so many cases No fewer than 220 men have called at the mission house this month, and there were 269 last month, all seeking work and all needing food or clothing. Very many of the callers, said Mr. King, were young men willing to take work of any sort. They had no chance on the relief works, which are resei'ved for married men. Numbers of women also are vainly seeking employment. An advertisement this week for a housekeeper produced 70 replies. PAY FOE RELIEF WORK. DISCUSSION IN WELLINGTON. The question of the rates of pay on unemployed relief works was discussed last week by the Wellington City Council. The matter was brought up by a motion, supported by Labour members, to the effect that the decision to pay 12s and 14s a day should be rescinded and that award rates should be paid. It was argued in support oi the motion that the lower rate did not bring the men a fair living wage, because bad weather meant that much time was lost. As the council was getting a subsidy from the Govern ment it could well afford to pay full rates for works which were more than mere relief works, but were necessary city developments. The Mayor pointed out that all local bodies with the exception of Wellington, Christ church and Wanganui, were paving only 9s and 12s a day. When the Wellington Council originally fixed its rates at 12s and 14s, no objection had been made by the Labour members. He thought that the council was wise in showing its desire that these men should eet other employment as soon as possible. The motion that award rates should be paid was defeated by 10 votes to 5.