UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT

No. 5 RELIEF SCHEME OPERATION TO BE CONTINUED ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR FORBES L (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 18. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) announced to-day that the Government had given further consideration to the unemployment problem and to the numerous representations which had been made for the continuance of scheme No. 5. Mr Forbes stated that although th-j* facts of his previous statement and tue reasons which led up to the announcement of the suspension of the No. 5 scheme had in no way been altered the Government had in the special circumstances, and in view of the whole-hearted demand from all parts of the Dominion, decided upon a temporary continuance of the scheme. Mr Forbes said that one of the first duties of Parliament would be to consider the question of funds for the Unemployment Board, and the Government intended to bring down legislation at the earliest opportunity in the forthcoming session with this end in view. In the meantime, however, as the result of earnest representations and with a view to relieving the unfortunate position in which many people were placed through a lack of employment the Government had decided upon a continuance of the scheme until such time as Parliament could deal with the problem of additional finance, which, based on the large numbers of unemployed now to be dealt with, was essential. “The Government,” said Mr Forbes, “realises its responsibility for stability, and. an increase of the unemployment funds will rest upon Parliament. As the session will commence within a week I have every hope that reasonable provision will be made so that relief can be continued.”

EFFECT OF DECISION OVER 36,000 MEN KEPT IN WORK (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, June 18. The Unemployment Board will adjourn for a week from to-morrow following upon the settlement of the question of providing work for men employed under the No. 5 scheme until Parliament has a chance of voting more money for relief purposes. The result of the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Government has stepped in to finance the scheme in the interim is that over 30,000 men, who would otherwise l)ave been left without work, will be kept in employment at present. The position is that the Unemployment Board is unable to undertake any further commitments until more money has been placed at its disposal by Parliament. It is estimated that about £OO,OOO will be required to finance the No. 5 scheme and incidental work within the next ten days and the Prime Minister will first of all have to ask Parliament to sanction this expenditure. From statements made by members of Parliament since the proposal to suspend the No. 5 scheme was first made it appears that the House will agree to the Government’s action and that Mr Forbes’s decision to keep the men working will meet with approval. The commitments already made by the board, however, will be met within the next week, but beyond that its activities will be severely limited. It is understood that men working on farm lands under schemes 4a and 4b will remain in employment. According to official figures supplied to-day the board is at present financing the employment of 8327 men on farm lands. A total of 6207 men are working under schemes 4a and 4b, and work is also being found for 400 men by the Native Trust Department, and for 220 by the Lands Department. In addition, it is estimated by the board that there are at least 1500 men engaged on drainage work under the No. 5 scheme in various parts of the country. Schemes 4a and 4b are regarded as of more than ordinary value by the board in that the men are engaged in what will prove reproductive employment. Farm labour is subsidised under scheme 4a which had absorbed 5604 men, of whom 4318 are single, up to June 8. The subsidies paid under this scheme up to that date amounted to £73,998. A total of 247 contracts involving 003 men had been let under scheme 4b up to June 6 and the subsidies approved had amounted to £6547. Subsidies had also been paid to the Native Trust Defiartment to enable it to employ men on and development work.

PROVISION OF FINANCE INCREASE OF LEVY SUGGESTED. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 18. The Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution recommending the Government that, as it is obvious that the present finances are insufficient, the Government should increase the unemployment levy, relief workers to be exempt. The mover said he thought the levy should not be paid by earners of less than £4 10s. The chairman of the Hospital Board, in an interview with the Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch), strongly urged that the Government should raise a compulsory internal loan for unemployment relief. DEALING WITH NEEDY CASES PUBLIC EFFORT AT HAWERA. (Peb United Press Association.) HAWERA, June 18, A meeting of about 100 town and country residents was held last night to devise means of providing subsistence for the unemployed until the Government resume s its relief measures. Over £IOO was subscribed, and numerous offers of regular supplies of provisions were received, including meat and vegetables from farmers for the unemployed of Hawera, who, with their wives and children, total over 80H needy persons. The meeting passed a resolution urging the Government to place all old people on pension, thus relieving the labour market, the money to be found by a 3d In the f tax on all wages; also that two weeks’ holiday for workers be made compulsory.

RELIEF OF DISTRESS FOOD AND CLOTHING REQUIRED DEPOTS NOW ACTIVE. Arrangements in connection with the opening of the food depot in St. Andrew street are now well in hand, workers having been busy during the past few days getting the building ready for occupation on Tuesday. This depot will be under the charge of the Mayoress (Mrs R. S. Black). In the meantime food supplies are being distributed to necessitous cases, whilst the clothing depot in Dowling street is also doing most valuable work. Supplies of food and clothing are still urgently required at the various depots. Speaking of the relief of distress yesterday morning, the Mayor stated that everyone could help, and he suggested that all who could do so should send a parcel of groceries once a week to the relief depots. For instance, it might be possible to give a pound of tea one week, and a pound of rice the next, and so on. He would prefer to receive £IOOO from 1000 people than that sum from one individual, as he felt that everyone should be helping in this time of national distress. If advice were sent to the Town Hall, arrangements would be made to have the goods collected. SALVATION ARMY’S EFFORTS Owing to the urgent need for the relief ef existing hardship in the city the Salvation Army recently decided to open a soup kitchen from which supplies would be available for all whose circumstances entitled them to this form of assistance. Operations were commenced iu a building opposite the men’s shelter in Maclaggan street on June 0, and since then the proportions of the work have steadily grown, until yesterday the output reached the total of 40 gallons. In addition to a large number of casual visitors, who are supplied with a bow] of soup at the kitchen itself, soup is also provided for three schools, a depot at Caversham and another at South Dunedin, the last having been opened yesterday. At the three schools the soup is handed over to the teachers, who distribute it to those pupils who, in their opinion, are not receiving sufficient food at home. Needless to say the action of the Salvation Army in this respect is greatly respected by those who have benefited in this manner.

All the work entailed in the preparation of the soup is done by voluntary labour, and for the most part the vegetables, meat, etc., have, been contributed free of cost to the kitchen. It was stated yesterday that supplies of these were coining in freely, but there was something of a scarcity of meat and bones. It will readily be appreciated that the work which the Army is doing in this respect is of a highly necessitous nature, and it is hoped that it will not be allowed to suffer from lack of support on the part of the public. Adjutant A. D. Thomson stated yesterday that during the five weeks ended last month 2300 meals had been provided at the men’s shelter in Maclaggan street, of which 1750 had been given free of charge, while during the same period 1200 beds had been placed at the disposal of those who were not in a position to pay for them elsewhere, over 800 of these being free.

As an instance of the manner in w'hich the Salvation Army is alive to the gravity of the present position, and is doing its utmost to meet the demands of the needy, it may be mentioned that, apart from the men’s shelter, another large room, in the same building as that in, which the soup kitchen is housed, has been fitted up with 40 beds. Only about 10 of these are occupied each night at the moment, but it is anticipated that with the advent of colder w’eather and the consequent increase of distress the capacity of these quarters will be taxed to the full. ACTIVITIES AT DOWLING STREET DEPOT The workers at the Dowling street relief depot report having experienced a busy day yesterday, n large number of people registering. Two cases of fish, presented by Stewart’s fish shop, meat from Duke’s butchery, groceries and vegetables from various sources, and cakes and sandwiches from the Burns Club and Officers’ Club, were distributed during the day The D.I.C. and staff have also given 150 children’s garments for distribution amongst the needy. It was stated yesterday that a pressing need for bedding existed, and any gifts of disused spring mattresses and bedding of any description would be gratefully accepted. DISTRESS RELIEF FUND. We have received the following subscriptions in response to the Mayor's appeal:— Previously acknowledged .. £52 10 1 B. M. W 22 0 “ Sympathy ” .. 2 0 0 Miss F 1 0 0 A. F. F 0 5 0 E. M. S. 0 5 0 We have also received £2 from “ Anonymous” and £1 from I. B. (Duuback) for the Mayoress’s fund for women.