STAND-DOWN WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 14

STAND-DOWN WEEK

WHANGAREI UNEMPLOYED COUNCIL VOICES PROTEST . [from our own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday A deputation from tho Whangarei Rolief Workers' Association waited on tho Whangarei Borough Council last evening soliciting the council's co-opera-tion with other local bodies in securing the abolition of stand-down week in Whangarei. The speakers said they did not wish for sustenance, but preferred to work for allocation money.

One member of the deputation said there was not one relief worker's home in Whangarei in which the inmates were getting, enough food to eat. The average weekly amount received by a husband, wife and two children over the four-weekly period was 22s 6d. "The position of the relief workers is getting desperate," said arother speaker. "We are unable to get sufficient to cat or to keep up our payments for rent."

Tho Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, moved that the council again protest to the Government against tho stand-down week and urge its abolition; and that the weekly allocation for the threeweekly j>eriod be paid for tho present stand-down week.

"This council has"-always opposed the stand-down week, and it is moro impressed than ever with the necessity for its abolition," said Mr. Jones. "We also see the Government's side from the financial point of view, but the question is a national one." Tho Whangaroi Citizens' Relief Committee spent over £6OO last year on relief. If the stand-down week were abolished there would be no further need for tho committee. "Harrowing scenes are continually coming under my notice," added the Mayor. "There are children in Whangarei who arc starving. To-night, before coming to this meeting, my wife and 1 fed some children who were suffering badly from want of food. The statements made by tho deputation in regard to hungry people are not exaggerations." / ' The resolution was carried.