UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT

SUSPENSION OF No. 5 SCHEME if ~ PROTESTS FROM DUNEDIN The decision of Cabinet to suspend the operation of the Nip- 5 scheme for relief workers hag resulted in an outcry from all parte of the country. Strong protests were voiced yesterday morning, at the meeting of the Dunedin Unemployment Committee, and it was decided to despatch a telegram to the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) as follows; The suspension of No. 5 scheme comes as a great shock, and means starvation to many families. We are at a complete loss to understand why the usual i i; procedure respecting inadequate authorisation of funds by Parliament ia ! being parted from in this case. Why ■ ' not allow the work to proceed and get j ' authority in the unauthorised expendiI ture when Parliament is in a position |f ! to do it as has been done in all such cases? It is utterly futile to expect local bodies to bridge the gap, their funds being already strained to breaking limits. Urge that the decision to suspend be reviewed at the earliest possible moment. — (Signed) F. W Mitchell, Deputy Mayor and chairman of local Unemployment Committee. Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P. for Chalmers, forwarded the following telegram to the Prime Minister:— Unemployment position in Dunedin very serious, and intensified by suspension of No. 5 scheme. Support Deputy Mayor’s suggestion to‘provide necessary money and receive authorisation from Parliament for expenditure. . Mr Ansell stated last evening that the position was .ghastly. Something would have to be done immediately. There were about 2400 men employed on relief works in Dunedin, and the plight of theee men and their dependents was now a very serious matter. i Messrs W; Downie Stewart. M.P.. and J, W. Munro. M.P., also forwarded telegrams 'to the Prime .Minister on similar lines to the message sent by the Deputy Mayor. t The chairman of the Unemployment Committee also despatched an urgent telegram to the Minister of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) asking him to support the protest made by the committee against the , suspension of the No. 5 ■cheme. . , I During the morning the following telegram was despatched to the Hospital Boards’ Association under the- signature of .the chairman of the Otago Hospital Board (Mr W. B. S. Knight):— In view of the press reports that the . Unemployment Board is ceasing operations on June ,20, suggest concerted action by the Hospital Boards’ Association to prevent the inevitable call on boards for assistance,_ for which practically no provision is made in estimates, more especially on account of the limitations imposed by the Government on the amount. available. The 1 chairman stated that the Otago r Hospital Board could not at present provide relief for those working under the unemployment scheme because of . the limitation placed on the board’s funds by the Government; The board was using all its resources _in dealing with the numerous applications that came before it for assistance. A prominent member of a Dunedin public body stated yesterday that the sudden closure' by the Government on relief works was the worst possible move it could have made. The Government’s action could not be. defended on any ground. . The Government and the majority of the people knew some time ago that at the rate money ,■ was being expended the funds of the Unemployment Board would be insufficient to meet the demand. In the face of this no provision whatever was made to deal with an emergency. It was farcical for the Prime Minister to appeal to local bodies, as he must be aware of the fact that the funds of such bodies were severely strained. It was hoped that the protests now being made would stir the Government to action. The position at the present moment was very. serious, but it would probably • become even worse; if something were not done immediately in order that ■ the relief works would not be suspended. ® • A social worker said there were men. , Women, and children in Dunedin who were in need,of more food and clothingthan they were now receiving. Some of the men who had been employed on relief i work had found it necessary to ask for relief, as the' amount they received in wages was not sufficient to keep their families. Some very sad cases could be cited. It was hoped that the Government would find some way out of the difficulty. -The Government had decided to close down the relief works in the • middle of winter. This was a very serious matter, and: immediate action was absolutely essential. If the relief works were closed down bn . June 20, as proposed, it would mean that between 2400 and 2500 men ,in Dunedin would be placed on the idle list. It could be imagined by any sane person what this would, mean to the men and their dependents. A member of one of the local trades' unions said that the suspension of the No. 5 scheme was a catastrophe. The plight of those who, would be deprived of work would be disastrous in the extreme. He considered that the Government had acted on wrong lines. The Government should have adopted the Labour Party s idea of a graduated levy. The Unemployment Board' was also at fault for the manner in which it had spent the money He thought the money had been thrown awav. It should have been used in some reproductive works. The Government was undoubtedly in a serious position, but Cabinet would have to do something. Parliament should be assembled without ■ any further delay. REST ROOM FOR UNEMPLOYED . MEN • The Rev. A. Mead, of the Moray Place Congregational Church, writes to us: -“■I -would appreciate your courtesy in allowing me to make known that a room for rest and recreation for unemployed men has been opened at the Moray Place Congregational Church, opposite the PublicLibrary. It is furnished with games, .literature, and a radio set which Messrs Charles Begg and Co. have_ kindly lent. “ There are many men who come into the city from the suburbs who have periods of time on hand between appointments and work-searches, and it is for euch that the room is intended. Assistants, clerks, warehousemen, and tradesmen are invited to use it. Our hope is that on grey days as well as wet, days the shelter of this room will be helpful. DISTRESS RELIEF FUND. We have received the following subscriptions in response to the, Mayor’s appeal: — Previously acknowledged .. .. £43 15 0 - C.'H. S 3 3 0 “Helper” ... 2 0 0 P ’...... ioo