MEN SEEKING WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 17 September 1929, Page 11

MEN SEEKING WORK.

DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR.

CITY RELIEF "OPERATIONS.

FIVE DIFFERENT SCHEMES. The complaints of applicants for work; ,vho ban to bo turned away when employment under the City Council's £25,200 loan scheme was allocated last week, wore brought beforo tho Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, yesterday. About 150 men, all claiming to bo bona-fido seekers of work, marched from the Government Labour Bureau to the Town HalJ shortly beforo noon, and the Mayor's car was eagerly surrounded when it pulled up. Mr. Baildon invited tho gathering to nominate representatives for a discussion in private, and a deputation of six was appointed, with Mr. J Baker as spokesman. The Mayor stated later that tho deputation 1 had complained of favouritism at tho Government Labour Bureau, alleging that newcomers wero sometimes placed in preference to men who had been on the waiting list for weeks., Mr Baildon said he pointed out that tho complaint was outside his responsibilities. Ho personally believed that the officials of tho bureau wero making the best of the circumstances., "I told them that since obtaining the approval of tho Local Government Loans Board to raise our loan wo had put in hand five differ ent works, which would call for tho expenditure of £54,000," said the Mayor. Employment had been found for 100 men, and it was hoped to double tho number as tho works progressed. Tho deputation expressed disappointment at tho small roliof afforded by tho tramway extensions at. Dominion Road and Point Chevalier,' tho Mayor replying that more skilled and semi-skilled men should bo absorbed when tho Transport Board received materials ' from overseas. The deputation was told that some of the council's works would last tliroo months and, one 'or two eight months. This would bo tho end of relief schemes now in sight.

"I wish I could find work for all in need of it, but you realise the l position—money cannot last for ever," said the Mayor.

The deputation urged tho Mayor to decline any request for street collections for the reliel of unemployment, on the ground that charity only hindered tho search for work.