UNEMPLOYMENT BELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18464, 27 January 1922, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT BELIEF

LACK OF FUNDS HAMPERS OPERATIONS.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) presided over a meeting of the Unemployment Relief Executive morning. He informed the committee that, after refunding 11600 advanced by the City Council, they had a credit balance of only. £271 18s 7d, wliioh was obviously insufficient to justify them in restarting relief works. , . Miss Runciman expressed regret at their inability to provide work, for in nearly dl the deserving oases it was work that was wanted. She said there was a largo number of necessitous oases, and those who looked after this part of the business had given relief in 100 cases since the last meeting. 'There were many who asked for work, and refused to accept orders fox goods, while some, in preference to accepting what they regarded as charity, were selling their furniture to purchase the means of living. There was no doubt a lot of suffering. .. . , The chairman spoke in favour of reiiex such as was being given being undertaken by the Charitable Aid Board, which could, perhaps, bettor undertake the duty. Miss Runciman pointed out that the assistance given by the Charitable Aid Board was in the direction of paying rent. More than that was wanted. While there might be a few undeserving oases, she was satisfied that very many would abstain from seeking relief if they could possibly avoid it. It wan a great pity that work could not be provided, but in face of the lack of funds she did not see that anything oonld be done in that direction. The Mayor referred to the decision at the last meeting to consider the advisability of revising the scale of wages. Mr J. B. Waters thought that position had been forced upon them, and suggested that they should seek authority from a general meeting to revise the scale. Miss Runciman expressed regret that the community had not yet awakened to the seriousness of the situation. After some further conversation it was .resolved to call a meeting of the executive for Monday next, for the purpose of drafting suggestions to submit to the various public organisations of the city. The Mayor remarked that a fear on the part of some employees that they _ might themselves lose their positions owing to slackness of work prevented them from contributing to the funds. Mr Waters pointed out that they might reasonably expect an increase of unemployment in the winter, end they were faced with the problem of providing for this oa well as for the relief of present distress. It was to be hoped that they would be able to devise some scheme that would appeal to the public and enable them to build up a substantial fund.