UNEMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11304, 1 September 1922, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

POSITION IN THE CITY MAYOR’S STATEMENT REGARDING LOAN WORKS. REPLY TO DEPUTATION. A deputation waited on the Oity Council last evening to discuss the difficulties of the unemployment situation so far as the city was concerned. Mr .A. Pindcr said he spoke as the appointed representative of the deputation, which asked the City Council to provide work so that the men in distress could maintain their wives and families. When a man had been out of work for weeks or months begging for work, he said, he felt that he was becoming a degenerate. There was work in the city, he gaid, crying out to be done, and the unemployed would be only too glad to perform it, even though it was nothing more than road work. Mr L. Glover, president pf tho Waterside Workers’ Union, spoke on behalf of tho waterside unemployed. Re quoted figures to show that the number of men working on the wharves had dwindled considerably during the past couple of years, and that there was still insufficient employment to absorb all whu sought a job. Furthermore, there was also a large demand on the waterfront from unemployed who had previously held jobs_ia the oity and in the country districts. To a great extent it was only the single men who could “hang out” on the waterfront to-day. The deputation had no definite suggestion to make as to relief measures, but left it to the council to make provision to absorb the unfortunates who were walking the streets week after week. He asked the council to try, if possible, as sympathetic business men, to help the distressed along, and relieve them, Bay, for two or three months until something better should turn up. If provision was not made shortly for Work for the workless, another deputation would have to he made again in a few weeks for soup kitchens and other such forma of relief and assistance. THE MAYOR’S STATEMENT. Tho Mayor (Mr R. A. AVright, M.P.) stated, in reply, that the council had been blamed in certain quarters for not dqing enough to relieve employment. As a matter of fact, for some- weeks past the council had had some 300 extra men added to its staffs. There were certain works, of coffrse, for which skilled labour was required, and these could not be used for the relief of unemployment. The council, therefore, had been by no means careless or inactive. A great deal of relief had been afforded through the supply of provisions to those in distress by a ladies’ committee ah the Town Hall. Several city works were under consideration, but the council was up against certain laws and formalities, which made it difficult to open these up immediately. The council hoped, however, to shortly take on more men, and do something further to relieve the unfortunate situation than it had done so far. IMMEDIATE ATTENTION SPECIAL MEETING OP COUNCIL. At a later stage of the meeting the council discussed a proposal to borrow. £IO,OOO for unemployment relief, which it is proposed to .expend upon the cutting up of the Homebush estate at Kbandallan. The Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) said that if a portion of the money was expended on thq Khandallah road, the council’s property weuld be improved in value, and through sales they would have the money spent returned to them; Councillor ,T. Forsyth advocated that the council should complete one job at a time, as' a matter of economy. Councillor O. H. Chapman anticipated difficulty in raising the money at 4i per cent, specified. The Mayor said that no arrangement Bad been made about the rate of interest. ‘Councillor P. Fraser, M.P., said that if the money could he raised immediately it would he thrice blessed. There was then the question as to how 6oon the men could be> started oh the works when the money was raised. The Mayor said they 'could be put on. immediately. < It was stated that it would be possible to employ about 150 men on the work, but it would take a month or six weeks to get the surveys completed. Councill C. H. Chapman hotly protested against such shameful delay. Every time anything of importance came up, he declared, they were told it could not be gone on with for some months. The council should allow no obstacle to come in its way in this matter. Councillor P. Fraser said the matter should be treated as one of extreme urgency., and- the council should make up ita mind to put the work in hand and absorb 150 men as soon 8b the money could be raised. “We don’t seem to go about these things in the right business-like manner,” remarked Councillor L. McKenzie. The council did not know what size of sections were required. He suggested that a committee of the council should be set up to assist the engineer m discussing such details. “Until we give some relief to the city engineer’s office,” said Councillor J. Burns, “this work will be hung up.” Councillors J. Thompson and C. J. B. Norwood suggested that the finance committee should hold a special meeting immediately to go into all aspects of the question.. The matter, was of such urgency, said Councillor Norwood, as to warrant the council setting, all .else aside until it had been decided upon. It was accordingly decided to hold a special meeting of the council at 4 b*clook this afternoon to receive suggestions from the finance committee as to what shall he done.