UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

DEMANDS AT HAMILTON. WANTS OF A DEPUTATION. COMMITTEE RESENTS ATTITUDE. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Thursday. Exception to the tone adopted by a deputation of representatives of the Hamilton branch of the Unemployed Workers' Movement which waited on the Mayor Dr. F. D. Pinfold, and the town clerk, Mr. W. L. Waddel, with a series of demands, was taken by the Hamilton Unemployment Committee yesterday. Speaking to the committee, the Mayor said he did not like the attitude taken up by the deputation. He did not think the men were representative of the genuine unemployed, who were hardworking, respectable men. Several members expressed sympathy with the Mayor's views. They pointed out that the conditions under which relief work was granted were not governed locally, but in Wellington. They felt that the off-week should be abolished. This was one of the demands by the deputation.

Id was resolved to inform the secretary of the Unemployed Workers' Movement that the committee was quite prepared to consider any reasonable requests, but would not tolerate anything in the nature of demands. A resolution asking the Unemployment Beard to abolish the off-week was carried. SUBSIDISING WAGES. PROPOSAL AT OTAHUHU. A suggestion that the Otahuhu Borough Council should subsidise the wages paid to relief workers was made by Mr. J. J. Graham at a meeting of the council last evening. Mr. Graham urged that the council should pay each man Is 6d a day extra, bringing the daily wage to 14s. He estimated the cost to the borough at £3l a week. This concession would be of immense benefit to the men and the tradespeople of Otahuhu. The Mayor, Mr. H. T. Clements, said the question was a big one, and would require to be considered in conjunction with the council's finances. It was decided to deal with the matter at a meeting of the council sitting as the Finance Committee. PUKEKOHE RELIEF WORKERS. PROTEST AGAINST TRANSFER. [froji our own correspondent.] PUKEKOHE, Thursday.

The Pukekohe Borough Council decided last evening to protest to the' Franklin County Council against its taking men working under the No. 5 scheme in the Pukekohe borough for work in tlie county. The Mayor, Mr. John Routly, presided. Dr. A. T. Begg suggested that the widening and deepening of Buckland Creek, on which most of the men were now employed, would benefit a section of the borough by giving a freer outlet for storm-water.

Mr. Routly said that the work dons previously by the Borough Council had given an adequate outlet. The officer in charge of the Labour Department in Auckland, Mr. W. Slaughter, wrote stating that the transfer of the men was a temporary measure. It was too soon to say yet when the men would be available again for work in the borough. The council decided to apply for men under the No. 5 scheme to be made available to the borough within the next fevr days for new road and footpath construction in Edinburgh Street.

SCHEME AT ROTORUA.

CULTIVATING SMALL AREAS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ROTORUA, Thursday.

A project was brought forward by the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, at a meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council last evening to secure about 25 acres of land for the assistance of the unemployed.

It was suggested that the land should be cut up into two-acre sections, which could be used for the cultivation of small fruits and vegetables. The land would be provided at a nominal rental, and the Unemployment Board would be asked to assist with the scheme. It .was not suggested that the men would be able to support themselves entirely from the proceeds of their allotments, but with help from the Unemployment Board in the preliminary work the scheme would go a long way toward helping the men to improve their position. The council was unanimous in its approval of the scheme. A resolution was passed placing oh record the council's appreciation of the work done by the Mayor in the interests of the unemployed. THE STAND-DOWN WEEK. OPPOSITION AT WHANGAREI. [from our own correspondent.] WHANGAREI, Thursday. At the meeting of the Whangarei Hnrbour Board to-day it was decided to write the Minister in charge of Unemployment, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, that in the opinion of this board, the stand-down week was a decided drawback to the relief work scheme and should be eliminated. The board's representatives on the local unemployment committee were instructed to bring this matter forward at the next meeting of the committee. CHURCHES AND WORKERS. CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH. [BY TET.EGR.Arn. —PRE'SSV^SSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Representatives of tho clergy and laity of Cliristchurch churches, including Bishop West-Watson and Bishop Brodie, met representatives of the Canterbury Industrial Association of Workers last evening and discussed unemployment questions and sustenance. At ono stage Bishop West-Watson said: " I am not prepared to vote on any resolution whatever. I came here to" learn, and I must say I am bewildered. To join in passing a motion concerning so intricate a matter on w«ich we have heard no facts would be- most improper." , Other church representatives supported this attitude, and finally the conference decided to meet again on May IB alter the church delegates had visited camps.