HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 11

HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED.

WORK OF RELIEF COMMITTEE*

BOOTS AND CLOTHING, j

MEN IN THE CITY SUPPLIED.

It was reported at the meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Unemployment Belief Committee yesterday that the committee's plan to render assistance to relief workers employed in the city and suburban area, equally with those in the relief camps, was now in operation. During the week, it was stated, the depot in Hobson Street had supplied boots and clothing to 184 men, making a total of 1170 men assisted since the committee began its operations. It was also reported that the committee had received donations totalling £2117, and had expended £1372, leaving a balance of £745. The chairman, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, said in an effort to get a worth-while response to his appeal for funds he proposed to send a circular to citizens and business firms setting forth the claims of the committee and explaining the valuable nature of the work it wa3 doing.

The officer in charge of the depot, Mr. R. Grieve, said he had received requests for assistance in the form of clothing from men who were engaged on jobs not controlled by local authorities, and the decision of the committee that requisitions should be certified by the engineers in charge did not give him authority to act. He mentioned the case of a number of relief men doing work for the Railway Department. Members mentioned the men employed at the Training College, grammar schools and primary schools, and it was decided that the certificate of the board architect or the chairman of the school committee concerned would be sufficient authority for the officer to act.

The suggestion was made by Sir George Richardson that the boot pool hitherto carried on by the Returned Soldiers' Association with the assistance of the Labour Department should be taken over by the committee and extended in its scope. It was necessary, he said, that some provision now should be made for providing new boots to many of the workers, as it was not possible to go on repairing the old ones. He thought that, as the majority of the registered unemployed were now being employed, they could very well pay something toward the cost of their boots.

It was decided to discuss the position of the pool with Mr. S. J. E. Closey, the originator of the scheme. It was decided to thank the management of the Britannia Theatre, Ponsonby, for tickets supplied for distribution to the families of relief workers.

POSITION AT MANUREWA.

STAND-DOWN WEEK DIFFICULTY. Faced with a stand-down week under No. 5 scheme and the withdrawal of sustenance by the Hospital Board, Mannrewa's unemployed are making efforts to secure an improvement in their conditions. Two meetings were held yesterday and a telegram was sent to the Minister of Employment pointing out the need of assistance. A further meeting was held last evening, the Rev. W. C. Wood, a member of the Auckland Hospital Board, being present. Mr. Wood considered that the relief funds should be distributed on a pro rata basis and urged the meeting to organise and put forward its case. It was decided to invite the cb-opera-tion of the Papakura district and to hold a public meeting this evening.

FINDING WORK FOB BOYS.

CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday.

At a meeting of social organisations interested in the problem of finding employment for boys, ifc was decided to call a North Island conference, to be held at Palmerston North, to formulate a national policy. It was stated that there were about 20,000 youths on the labour market, and immediate remedies must be adopted. It was considered amazing that the State, which asserted its right to educate the child, should now, in a crucial period of the child's life, be bankrupt of any policy for grappling with the problem. It behoved all employees, employers, trade organisations, unions and parents to get together to deal with the problem.

BUILDING SUBSIDY SCHEME.

APPLICATIONS IN WELLINGTON.

TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tueeday.

Since the beginning on July 1 of the Unamploymenfc Board's No. 10 scheme of subsidised labour for building and renovation, a gratifying number of applications have been approved at the Buckle Street bureau. Wellington City has accounted for 18 applications to a total value of £16,996. Of this amount the sum of £4625 represents labour costs on which the Government's subsidy will be based. The proportion of labour .cost to the total cost of the job varies considerably. For example, one job worth £496 will mean a wages expenditure of only £4O, while another costing £2O will represent £8 in wage payments. The largest application so far approved is for £14,691, the labour cost being £4OOO. Other large applications include one for £496, and ono for £514, which is to be spent in alterations and additions to a private house.

DISTRIBUTION OP RATIONS.

DETAILS OF SCHEME SOUGHT*

[BT TELEGRAPH. —FRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday.

A meeting of representatives of local bodies and societies assisting in relief matters decided last, evening to ask the Acting-Minister of Employment and the Unemployment Board to furnish full particulars of tho scheme for granting relief to registered unemployed who are in need of rations. A resolution to this effect was carried after a statement had been mndo by the Mayor, Mr. D. <5. Sullivan, MP., regarding tho non-success of his efforts in Wellington and Cbristchurch to get particulars of tho "Unemployment Board's ration scheme. Mr. Sullivan said lie had Tried all available sources, tho acting-Minister, members of the board (the chairman being not available), and officials of the Labour Department, and none would give him information without tho authority of the board or the Minister. The conference was called tc» discuss the position which had arisen in the city in respect of the operation of the Government's rations scheme. Tho fact was, said Mr. Sullivan, that very few seemed to be getting relief under this scheme ana many people who had been receiving rations from the Hospital Board were at their wits' «nd because no relief was forthcoming from the Government.