MEN ON RELIEF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21163, 21 April 1932, Page 10

MEN ON RELIEF WORK.

INCREASED NUMBER IN CITY.

NOTHING DONE AT AVONDALE.

MANY IDLE AT MOUNT ALBERT.

There was again a slight increase in the number of men who started work on relief jobs in the city and suburban areas yesterday, the greatest increase being on the works undor the control of the Auckland City Council. No work, however, wns dono in the Avondalo and New Lynn districts, where the men continue to remain on strike.

The position in the city area showed marked improvement yesterday, the number of men who started work being approximately 87 per cent, greater than on the previous day. No new jobs were started, additional men being taken on the works already in progress. Most of these extra men were workers who bad formerly been employed on City Council undertakings. This increase was anticipated, as it was felt that a number of the men were under the impression that they were not eligible for work this .week, and did not offer themselves for employment. The heavy rain yesterday morning deterred many men from turning out, as they believed that no work would be done. Otherwise a great many more would have reported for duty. It is thought that now tho position is better understood, greater numbers will roport to-dav.

The jobs previously carried out in the Avondale district were under the control of the city engineer, and those of the men who were willing to work yesterday were drafted to other works. A total of 53 men started in the Mount Albert district yesterday, this being an increase of 13 on the previous day. These men were concentrated mainly on two major works. There are, however, still nearly 350 men for whom work is available in Mount Albert who have not yet returned to their jobs. Most of the gangs in the Mount Eden district were at full strength yesterday, a total of about 200 finding work. There was also no trouble in the Mount Roskill area, where the full complement of 53 men carried on without interruption. This is one of the slack weeks in Mount Roskill, and it is anticipated that the full quota will be employed next week.

Both One Tree Hill and Newmarket had the same number of men working as on the previous day, no trouble having been experienced in either district since the beginning of the week. The stand-down woek is being observed at Otahuhu, and no work is in hand. Work was found yesterday for a few men at New Lynn, where one of the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company's works was reopened for the making of pipes, but the number of men required was not sufficient to have any appreciable effect on the number of unemployed in the district. MOUNT ALBERT MEN. DECISION NOT TO WORK. A decision to continue to refuse work tinder the present unemployment schemes was made at a large meeting of Mount Albert unemployed, held in tho Morningside Hall last evening. Subsequently the president, Mr. J. Johnson, stuted that the district unemployed were determined to stand out until the Government announced some niore equitable echemo. MARRIED MEN IN OAMPS. COUNCIL RAISES OBJECTION. The employment of married men in relief camps was discussed by tho Mount Eden Borough Council on Tuesday The Unemployment Board acknowledged the council's resolution asking that the drafting of married men to country camps should be discontinued as far a» Mount Eden was concerned. It pointed out that unemployment funds were not for the benefit of local bodies, but for the provision of relief work for the unemployed, and it was hoped tho council would continue to co-operate with the board in its efforts to place relief labour on reproductive works.

" Tito board does not realise that wo have sufficient work in the borough for at least another two years for married unemployed," said Mr. R. J. Mills. Ho considered it necessary to bring this to the attention of the Unemployment Board. It was derided to again ta>ko up tho matter on the lines of tho previous motion. CONDUCT AT TAKAPUNA. MEN'S BEHAVIOUR PRAISED. Reporting to tho Takapuna Borough Council last evening 011 tho recent strike by a portion of unemployed workers of the district, the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, said tho men had conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. Mr. Guiniven said 35 out of 102 throe-day men and 28 out of 42 four-day workers had struck. "Tho men behaved in an orderly way, and showed 110 warmth of feeling," said the Mayor. "Wo should be proud of them." Mr. C. M. Dowd viid the men concerned had advised him that if any of the rioting element niacin its appearance in Takapuna they would see that no harm came to local business people or to their premises. SITUATION AT HUNTLY, UNEMPLOYED REMAIN FIRM. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HUNTLY, Wednesday. The following telegram was recoived today by the Mayor, Mr. W. C. E. George, from tho Minister in Charge of Unemployment, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coatcs:— "Tho rellr.f work offered at Hunlly for unemployed is available and should bo resumed. As explained, the work on tho railway was provided specially for tho un employed, and is not ordinary work. I see 110 reason why work other than this should not proceed without being affected by tho difference of opinion concerning railway relief work." A meeting of tho unemployed was held this afternoon to discuss the position, a resolution boing passed that they would remain firm until such time as their demands were conceded to.

METHODIST MINISTERS' PLEA,

SUGGESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT.

[nY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, "Wednesday.

The Methodist ministers' fraternal issued a manifesto urging the Government immediately to abolish the principle of the "stand-down" week, to make no further reduction in wages, increasingly to provide productive work as far as possible, and to provide sustenance for all who arc physically incapable of work.