UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19836, 8 July 1926, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT.

LOCAL COMMITTEE MEETS. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE. SPEEDING UP OF WORKS URGED. A meeting of the recently-formed Unemployment Committee was held in the Town Hall yesterday morning. The Deputy Mayor (Cr W. B. Taverner) preSi< Thc Chairman said that several local bodies had intimated their willingness to co-operate, and he was sure that the chain of relief work would be most important. He suggested that an Executive Committee of five members be set up to deal with urgent matters, and that Mr Lewin be appointed treasurer. The duplication of the railway line from Ravensbourne to Burkes had been authorised, and the committee might suggest that the work be pushed ahead. Mr Lewin was appointed treasurer. The, Secretary (Mr J. Robinson) reported that 58 names had been enrolled on the register in the engineer’s room. Miss Batt said that five girls had registered at the Y.W.C.A. Mr G. S. Thomson stated that the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union had decided to grant £1 Is towards the unemployment fund. The Salvation Army wrote assuring the committee of any assistance. —The letter was received with thanks. Mr T. Somerville (Manufacturers' Association) said he was sure he was voicing the sentiments of the Manufacturers’ Association when he said that its sympathy was toward finding work for the unemployed. As a manufacturer, he would have to say that factories were being run with large staffs not justified by tho business offering. He believed that manufacturers generally were assisting largely in stopping further developments in unemployment by keeping on St *Mr’ W. T. Smollio (Mayor of Green Island) said that the loan work proposed at Green Island would employ from 15 to 2 °Mr'w. B. Stool (Otago Expansion League) urged that full particulars of the registered unemployed be tabulated, so that men could be placed in work for which they wore suitable. Ibe committee should take up a strong stand in cases where men left jobs in the country to get work in the city. Mr R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Kdda) said that on Monday night tho at. Kilda Borough Council would discuss tho raising of a loan to be devoted to works. Iwo or three extra men were to be put on race and water drains in order to give rebel. Mr J. P. Walls (Mayor of Mosgiel) said that ho would endeavour to arrange with Mr Blair (chairman of tho Taien County Council) this evening to put work m hand. Tho only relief work done so far—a fencing job—had given employment to men outside the borough of Mosgiel. Mr J. Lightfoot (secretary of the Labour Department) said that the machinery of the Labour Department, made the department 8 office the most suitable place for the ropistration of the unemployed. . CT J. Wilson (chairman of the Works Committee) said that, ho anticipated that more men would be placed on public works. Tho tramways, gas, and water departments wore “pushing” tho North-East Valley work, but the council had to wait for tho pipes. Tho work, it was expected, would not bo put in hand till September There was no hope for a com mencoment of the the tramway extension. Tho preparation between the works and tramways departments would take f months, and ho had already lost his j patience in the negotiations for the purchase of porperties. ns not one gale had yet been signed. The Harbour Board had not yet replied to the committee’s request for an indication, of the preference of works, which the council could start on immediately. The council was prepared to subsidise the Unemployment Committees expenditure by £ for £ on road work at the Pino Hill subdivision for workers cottages to bo erected by tho corporation. Ibo road construction costs would have to bo kept to tho lowest, as the purchasers of tbo homes would have to pay for the work ultimately. Tho plans wore yet to bo approved by tho council, after which a portion of the work would bo proceeded with at once. As to tho smaller works in various parts of the city these could not be commenced until the engineering staff had prepared the dotails. The present trouble was that the staff* was fully engaged, but the work was being pushed ahead as quickly ns was pos--Blln’reply to Mr MacManus. Mr Steel said that ,tho Expansion League had hoped that, tho Arrowtown irrigation scheme would have been further ahead to employ mOro men. The same applied to the Burkes railwav duplication, which should bo accelerated. This work would provide employment for the married men. and the single men could go to. Arrowtown Another work was the reading on the Clutha River to Tuapeka Mouth, on the Bruce County side. Surveys had been made at various times of the extension of tho Otago Cential Railway from Cromwell to Luggute, but no advice had been received on the contemplated date of starting the work. When Hillside reconstruction was commenced employment would bo given many men. P On tho motion of Mr Thomson, it was decided to make representations to the Harbour Board to expedite its works. When Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman of the Otago Hospital Board) proposed the election on bloc of five members to the Executive Committee Mr Ihomson protested that “hole and corner methods were being adopted. . , The Rev. V. G. Bryan King said the work of tho committee was being carried on in a democratic way. “Do, tor goodness sake, let us got ahead, ho said. Sir Thomson: 1 rise to a point of ordei, Mr Chairman. I have to got away myself by the 12.15 train for Mosgiel. 1 contend that we should simply decide on a committee and then elect the members. His amendment to that effect was not seconded, and Sister Nora moved that a sub-committee of four ladies be set up, the names of which were intimated, bbe said Mr Thomson should not be “nasty. Mr King (following an interjection from Mr Thomson) : Look hero, Mr Thomson, we ran things in Dunedin before you came here, and we hope to goodness that we will have your full support in this subcommittee. . , . , • Mr Thomson: I will certainly help in the interests of the workers, but what 1 ask is that an opportunity be given to nominate the personnel. Mr Taverner replied that the work of the committee was.purely philanthropic in nature, and their members were not present because they wanted to be at a meeting, but were out to help those needing assistance.

Mi' Thomson was tlie only member to negative the motion that the executive be composed of the five names submitted. “I ask that my protest be recorded,” ho said. Mr Taverner: It will be recorded. It was decided that the executive should consist of the following;—Chairman and secretary (ex-officio), the Rev. Bryan King, Cr J. Wilson, Mr Harrison, Miss Runciman. and Mr Shortt. Sister Nora, Miss Batt, Miss Thomson, and Miss Runciman were appointed a subcommittee to deal with the female side. They were given power to add to their number. Mr Thomson brought up the question of the City Council carrying out afforestation.

Mr Taverner replied that tho Reserves Committee was considering the question, but he understood that the planting could be carried out only at certain seasons. Tho Rev. W. Walker said that the needs were not being met at present, as work was open to only about 50 or CO men, whereas about 300 men were out of work. The Government should be urged to put works in band straight away, as in other centres. Mr Walker suggested that Dunedin should place men on work in the Botanic Gardens, a; was done in Christchurch.

Mr MacManus said that owing to the circumstances the Government might alter its legislation to allow of main highways work in tlm district. Cries were being heard from various parts, but the Government, under tho present legislation, had to obtain quotas the'local bodies. Mr Somerville promised to see all tin local members of Parliament. He considered that the Prime Minister should he asked why the demolition of the old Post Office was not being proceeded with. The committee decided to telegraph Mr Taploy asking him to sec Mr Coates on the matter. AN APPEAL. The committee has made an appeal to all citizens who contemplate undertaking

work* to commence them immediately and to notify the Y.W.C.A. (in the case of female workers) or the city engineer’s office. HARBOUR BOARD WORKS. PROPOSED STREET CONSTRUCTION. OUTLAY OF £14,000 APPROVED. At the special meeting of the Otago Harbour Board yesterday the question of providing work for unemployed was discussed with reference to the completion of Halsey and Bauchop streets. The sub-committee of the board reported as follows Tour committee, after inspecting Coates crescent and Willis street, examined Halsey and Bauchop streets. It was given no authority in this matter, but ventures, with a view to assisting the unemployment scheme, to suggest that those streets be completed, at an estimated cost to the board of approximately £7OOO. Before this work can be proceeded with provision will require to be made for sewage and stormwater, the estimated cost of which Is approximately £7OOO. The Treasurer reports that by encroaching on reserves the money can be found, consequently your committee begs to suggest that the City Council be requested to carry “ihfewSSm .< tho £14.000 .n-thl. TkiSOTS. Mill. vCI0(K)0 00. orl UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF FUND. In accordance with a request from tho Deputy Mayor, we have decided to open a fund, 'to which we shall be pleased to receive subscriptions, to Unapplied in the relief of unemployment. We have recchtd the following subscription:—

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