WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 10

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

AUCKLAND RECEIVES £2OOO.

CITY TO RAISE EQUIVALENT.

Auckland members of Parliament were notified by the Prime Minister on S&tur* day that the Cabinet has authorised the payment of £2OOO to the Auckland City Council for the relief of unemployment during the Christmas; season. It is made clear that the money is strictly in the nature of a subsidy, for which the City Council must raise an equal amount.

Sir Joseph Ward's telegram reads:— "£2OOO authorised by way of subsidy pound for pound to Auckland City Council to help unemployed to tide over Christmas period." The telegram definitely corrects the belief that the allocation might represent a free grant. Before the money can become available the City Council will havo to give an undertaking to supplement the gift with £2OOO of its own. Similar amounts of £2OOO havo been granted to the three other cities.

The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, stated yesterday he had received no information other than the announcement conveyed to him by. Auckland members of Parliament. He anticipated there would be no serious difficulty in providing the City Council's share of the expenditure, but as plans for any new works would have to be submitted to the Public Worktt Department before a start could bi» made there would naturally be a little delay. It was desirable the men should be engaged before Christmas, but, in view of the Cabinet's stipulation, he would not, until he had fully looked into the matter, promise that the necessary arrangements could be completed in so short a time. The town clerk, Air. J. S. Brigham, stated his intention to examine, first thing this morning, ways and means of putting new works into operation. "I gave instructions to the engineer's department on Saturday to arrange work to absorb £4000," he said. "Everything will bo done to expedite the matter." At present approximately 100 men are receiving unemployment rates of pay on City Council works. They are distributed between Western Springs, where the construction of a sports a.rena is progressing, and Waiatarua Park, where road formation is going on. The sum of £IBOO is being spent by the City Council on these two works and application has been made to the Government for pound for pound subsidies on the total amount.

THE CITY'S REGISTRATIONS.

INCREASE FOR LAST WEEK. A further increase in the numbar of unemployed men was recorded at the Government Labour Bureau in Auckland last week, the total registrations being 733, as compared with 672 the previous week and 638 the woek before that. A month ago the figures were 615. Of last week's total 623 men were classed as fit for heavy work and 210 as fit for light employment. During the week 48 men were placed in employment, compared with 77 in the preceding week. One reason advanced by officials of the Labour Bureau to account for the increase at this time of the year is that with the approach of Christmas a number of men who previously were not registered are now keeping in close touch with the bureau, in the hope of finding work to tide them over the holiday season. Another probable reason for this week's increase is that a greater number of men have been induced to register by the increase in pay on relief works in the country and the promise of greater expenditure in the cities to relieve unemployment.

WINDFALL FOR OHRISTCHTJROH.

THE FEELING IN DUNEDIN.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. j| DUNEDIN, Sunday. A peculiar position has arisen in regard to assistance granted by Government toward relief of unemployment. By approaching the Prime Minister actually before ho had taken office, Christchurch had tho good fortune to secure a straight-out grant of £2OOO, whereas Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin have had to be content with a subsidy involving the putting in hand of works nof, provided for in the engineer's schedules. Moreover, as far as Dunedin is concerned it has paid 12s a day in the past for married men, and tho assumption is that if tho Government subsidy is accepted Dunedin will .'have to-increase this rato to 14s. Thoro is a feeling in some quarters that tho action of tho Government in this matter is rather invidious as favouring one city against others.

"DEFINITELY A GRANT."

STATEMENT BY MR. ARCHER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.

Tho Mayor of Christchurch, tho Rev. •T. K. Archer, states that tho £2OOO given to the Christchurch unemployed relief fund by the Government is definitely a grant, and not a subsidy.