UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT.

DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR. MEN “HUNGRY AND COLD,” PLEA FOR PROMPT ACTION. . Urging prompt action in the direction of providing work a large number of the unemployed, led by Mr Bryan O’Donnell, ■- ■waited upon the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) shortly before noon yesterday. Mr O’Donnell began by asking, the Mayor to fulfil the promises which he had made to a deputation three weeks ago. Immediate relief waa necessary, he stated. He had noticed that a committee ■with Cr Mitchell as chairman had been set up to carry out an afforestation scheme but as the land had not yet been purchased he did not see how relief from that source could be expected for some time. At present the men must remain cold and hungry. He wanted to know what was being done with the sum of £44,000 which had been borrowed to lay a pipe-line from Sullivan’s dam to the Ross Creek reservoir, and he asked ■whether it waa true that the council waa waiting until the pipes had been manufactured in England, because he believed that was the case. The shortage of power at Waipori was affecting the secondary industries arid throwing still more men out of .work. The council was not showing any courage in dealing with the problem, and it was the opinion of the men that the local bodies were ; all “ hedging and shuffling and blaming the Government ”, when they could do a great deal themselves. The Mayor had advised them to go to the Charitable Aid Board, anu they had done so. The board was doling out a day and a half’s work at a time, and for this the men received £l. In at was not enough to pay the rent, and hi the meantime their wives and* children were starving. The unemployed wanted the local bodies to pluck' up sufficient courage to deal with the question immediately. At present the men were docile though they were huugr/, but the time was fast approaching when they would combine in a demonstration and seek other means of bringing their case before the local bodies. The men were like' hungry ■wolves ready to jump nt a given ‘word, anjl he, as their leader, would not be responsible for their actions in the future. Their leaders were chlled*Bolshevists, extremists, and agitators, but they were merely doing their best to obtain work for the men. Another speaker urged the Mayor to telegraph to the Governinent asking it to commence relief works in the vicinity of Dunedin and to pay wages fixed by the Arbitration Court. At present the Government was taking advantage of the misfortunes of the. unemployed and compelling them to work under an alleged contract system which prevented them from earning a living wage. 'He asked the Mayor to call a meeting of employers to deal with the question. One member of the deputation stated that the majority of the men did not have half a loaf standing between them and starvation. His breakfast had consisted of bread and treacle, and if many of those present were riven a -job they would not have the strength to do it. They could not send the butcher and the baker away indefinitely -with honeyed words. His grocer had declined to supply him with goods almost before he had known himself that he was unemployed. In quoting his own case be spoke for the majority of the men present.—(Loud cries of "Hear, hear.”) If the conditions remained 'as they were at present not work, but money to bury them, would be needed. He stated that work could be found_ for a number, of men if the Government completed the reconstruction of the Portohello road. Another speaker stated thqt the council could find work by improving the Dunedin streets. Work could be found for 20 men- If a slip at Moruington was cleared away. The Mayor; Something will have to be done. We don’t want to open soup kitchens if we can avoid it. We will have to get work. A voice; What has been done? The Mayor replied that he knew that a good deal had not been done. He hoped that, the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom) had finished his electioneering, because he wanted to put the case very solidly before him. At present the council was tied up by the Government. If nothing was done he might have to call a public meeting next week. Referring to a statement by the Mayor that unemployment was rife all over the world, Mr O’Donnell stated that the unemployed were only interested in what was being done in Dunedin.— (“Hear, hear,”) The ranks of the unemployed were being swelled every day, but he did not think that the City Council had yet approached the Government. It was suggested that when relief works were in operation the men should be paid 14s a day and the work shared among them. The Mayor.;' 1 thank you for your quiet demeanour. You must feel your position very keenly. Mr O’Donnell indicated that the men might not remain quiet. A voice; We can’t stand it much longer. PROMPT TELEGRAM TO MINISTER IMMEDIATE NEED FOR RELIEF WORE. After the deputation had retired the > Mayor the following telegram to the Minister of Public Works: — “ Very large deputation, representing 600 unemployed and their dependents, called on mo this morning and stressed ■the urgency for immediate relief. Suggest Portobello road could absorb a number, and also suggest the putting in hand of other work near Dunedin. It hasbeen averred that contract work under your department is bqsed too low for good men to earn a- living wage. It is suggested that this should be tested by checking up with the different classes of work doue by reliable workers. The position is desperate, and will undermine the manhood of the country if not alleviated quickly. Please telegraph to what extent you can assist, and when.” THE £20,000 RELIEF LOAN. POLL IN ABOUT A FORTNIGHT. ! At the meeting of the City Council last night Cr Mitchell moved the confirmation of the resolution passed on April 23 authorising the raising of an unemployment relief loan of £20,000. Cr Munro wanted to know how long it would be befpre the loan poll could be taken and how much it would cost. The town clerk said the proposal would come before the Loans Board to-morrow and the poll coaid be taken in about a fortnight. He was endeavouring to keep the cost as low ns possible. Objections to the proposed loan were received from E, R. Smith, James Jenkins, Herbert Ball, and Agnes Ball. The motion was carried. MAINTAINING PRESENT STAFFS. The Mayor, referred to the deputation from the unemployed which had waited on him that morning. He had sent a telegram to the Minister of Public Works

(Mr E. A. Ransom) stating that there were 500 unemployed in Dunedin at present and asking what assistance could be given. The Mayor asked if they could do anything that night to hurry on works. Cr Wilson said that whatever he could do would only be in the direction of keeping their present gangs on drainage works, with the addition of re-engaging men who were recently discharged. The Drainage Board had had to put off 20 men recently, Cr Mitchell said that by arrangement with the Hospital Board 20 men had been given work on Monday morning last in the Reserves Department. EX-SERVICEMEN EMPLOYED. With the funds raised from the recent Poppy Day appeal it has been found possible to place a number of ex-servicemen in employment. Twelve of these were given a start yesterday morning in the Botanical Gardens under the supervision of Mr D, Tannock. Last evening the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ As ociation (Mr J. M. White) stated that there are still about 60 names of unemployed on the books of the association, but it is hoped - that with the aid of subsidies from public bodies, negotiations fox which are now in band, employment will soon be found for a number of these ex-servicemen. In order that all may share as equally as possible in the division of employment, it has been decided that the men will be provided with work for one month, at the end of which time others will be brought on. DEMONSTRATION AT AUCKLAND MR STALLWOR'f'HY’S ADVICE, DEMAND FOB ADEQUATE MAIN- . TENANOE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May. 7. There was another unemployed demonstration this morning. This time it .was outside the offices of the Charitable Aid Bo.ard. A committee of the- unemployed entered the offices and informed the officer in charge that they had been' informed by the Minister of Health (Mr J. Stallworthy) that they could legally demand adequate maintenance. They prc.-. sected specific demands, including 36s a week for single men and 30s each for a man and - his wife. On being told that the demand could not possibly be met the committee withdrew, and discussed t.hu situation with those outside. TRAMWAYMEN DISMISSED. , FEWER SERVICES. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. A number of men will be dismissed fay the Christchurch Tramways Board when the reduced services come into force, probably on June 1. This statement was made by Mr F. Thompson, general man ager for the board. The date of the inauguration of the less frequent services depends on the construction of a number of new loops. If-these are ready in time the new time table will be put into operation on June 1, In addition to the dtsr missal of men it is not likely that any vacancies in the board’s running service wilt be filled for a considerable period.