UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21390, 18 July 1931, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT

RELIEF OF DISTRESS POSITION IN DUNEDIN ST. ANDREW STREET DEPOT Heavy demands are being made upon the resources of the St. Andrew street food depot, and so numerous are the requests for assistance that considerable difficulty is being found in maintaining supplies of foodstuffs. The volunteer workers at the depot experienced a very busy day yesterday, large numbers of parcels of food and firing being distributed amongst the needy. DOWLING STREET DEPOT A number of families were supplied with outfits of clothing at the Dowling street depot yesterday, whilst many persons availed themselves of the opportunity of getting their boots and shoes repairea at the boot repairing department. A quantity of material was made up into men’s working clothing by the Misses Dallas, and more men’s garments are being made by Mrs Stratton. Investigators report that in several homes children’s cots are badly needed, and if any persons have any spare cots the depot official will be glad to make arrangements to have them collected. The following donations are acknowledged with thanks: —Mrs Duncan. Mrs Bremner (clothing), St. Andfew’s Presbyterian Church, Queenstoivn (two sacks clothing), Owaka, Mrs Boulton (clothing), Mrs Jenkins (quilt), Mr Ritchie. Mr Elder, Roxburgh, Mrs Speight. “Halwyn.” Roxburgh (clothing), Mr R. Dawson, New Zealand Breweries (leather for boot repairing). THE MAYOR’S FUND In a list of donations to the Mayor’s Fund (previously acknowledged) a gift of £1 for the purchasing of boots was credited to W. H., Mosgiel, instead of to W. H. L. C., Mosgiel. WOMEN AND GIRLS The Women’s Unemployment Committee make a strong appeal for work. There are now 377 names on the books; 74 have been placed, some in temporary positions only. Broadly speaking, there are 300 waiting for work. Among these are office clerks, typists, waitresses, shop assistants, laundry ivorkers, dressmaker, fur worker, tailoresses, cooks, home darners, factory workers, boot machinists, mill workers, house workers, and housekeepers. Any inquiries for workers of any description will be thankfully received by the secretary, Miss Harborow, care of Y.W.C.A., to whom also donations to the Mayoress’s Fund for Unemployed Women and Girls should be sent. The committee is anxious that all women and girls in search of work should register, and those who have already done so should keep in touch with the secretary. It is essential that those who have secured employment should notify the secretary in order that the lists may be kept up to date. THE MAYORESS’S FUND.

We have received £1 from “Nayda” for the Mayoress’s Relief Fund. TRIBUTE TO UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD There have been many tributes to the value of the Unemployment Boards schemes, which were evolved in the stress of the worst industrial crisis which the Dominion has ever known, and there have also been innumerable criticisms of the board’s work. One of the most striking declarations with regard to the board s efforts has been made in the following letter from .the president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand (Mr Thomas Jackson): — “I would like to express my own and the executive’s appreciation of the work your board has done in evolving the various schemes for the relief of unemployment. I would particularly stress the importance to local bodies generally of your board’s No. 5 scheme, which I con* eider to have been the most efficient scheme which has so far been evolved in so far as it enabled local bodies to place large numbers of unemployed people at work on useful and permanent works within easy reach of their own homes. I realise that your board has been confronted with numerous difficulties, ihe urgenev of the necessity for giving reliei made it imperative that such schemes as were evolved should be brought into existence with as little delay as possible, and I consider that the rapidity with which your various schemes have been brought into operation reflects the greatest credit upon your board, and that the operation of the schemes has conferred great, benefits upon the various local authorities, in addition to the relief and assistance they have afforded to the unemployed workers.'

THE REST HOME IN MORAY PLACE * The Congregational Church in. Moray place has continued its work during the week, and the number of men availing themselves of the facilities of the_ rest and recreation room has not diminished. The ladies of the church have dispensed afternoon refreshment, and in this connection donors of gifts are heartily thanked. The Rev. Albert Mead also thanks those who have sent reading matter and games. On Friday afternoon Mr A. Salmond, M.A., gave an illuminating address on the “ Population Problem of the Pacific. ’ In an interesting manner he dwelt upon conditions of countries around the Pacific and commented upon their relationship to New Zealand. Last Wednesday afternoon Mr M'Cracken continued his talks on More'S ‘"Utopia,” showing that what we call “ modern problems ” existed even in those far-off times. The address was followed with interest, and questions were put to the speaker at the close. Community singing has been held to the enjoyment of the men. Lecture arrangements for next week consist of: —Monday, 2.15 p.m.. “Mankind in the Light of Evolution,” by the Rev. E. Paris. Wednesday, 2.15 p.m., “More’s ‘Utopia,’” by Mr M'Cracken. Friday, 2.15 p.m., “Geneva,” illustrated by lantern views, by Mr Lloyd Ross, LL.B.. M.A. Men who have leisure time on hand are invited to attend.

DOMINION REGISTRATIONS A NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, July 17. The unemployed registrations constituted a new record for the week ended July 13, when the total recorded at labour bureaux was 47,203, compared with 46,359 for the previous week. In supplying the figures, the Minister of Labour (Mr S. G. Smith) said that there was an apparent increase of 844. The number of men who had qualified under the No. 5 scheme and had been placed in work totalled 33,557; 4500 were engaged under the 4A scheme and 700 under the 48. The total number of man for whom no work was found was 8440, but it was probable, said the Minister, that the majority of these were not eligible for employment during the week under the board’s scheme of rationing, while others could not be suitably placed on account of physical disability. • . Particulars of the registrations in the main centres are as follow: —

centres are as follow, the figures for the previous week being given in parentheses '• -• " Auckland, 6588 (6539); Wellington, 4431 (4313); Christchurch, 5073 (4950); Dunedin, 2931 (2848); Invercargill, 1176 (1115).

Previously acknowledged £320 5 0 M. Smith 0 0 Anonymous 2 6 £321 7 6

With Without dependents, dependents. Auckland .. 2912 36/G Wellington .. 2256 2175 Christchurch .. 3173 1900 Dunedin .. .. 1642 1289 Invercargill .. 815 361 The total registrations in the main