UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21640, 10 May 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

LOCAL RELIEF OPERATIONS WORK FOR TO-DAY The following groups will report for work to-day: — \ Otago Education Board.—B a.m., at Ford’s byre, Pine Hill, group 35. Defence Department.—B a.m., at Central Battery, St. Kilda, the following men of group 19:—Aclie, Barbara, Cumings, Fergus, Lamb, Limn, Milne, Montague, M'Kcwen, Pearson, Ross. D.C.C. Reserves Department.—B a.m., at Opoho football ground, group 217. Works Department.—To commence 8 a.m., 533, Wharf street, at tip. MAYOR’S DEPOT The following donations have been received at the Mayor’s relief depot, St. Andrew street, and are acknowledged with thanks: —Mornington residents, per Frank M. Shirley, 20 packages; Charles Borret, one sack potatoes; a Ravensbourne resident, per Mr Prescot, one case fruit; Mrs E. C. Reynolds, per E. Anderson, two cases jam; South Dunedin residents, per Wolfenden and Russell, 14 packages; North End residents, from the store of Matheson and Moir—Miss Alexander, 0 Constitution street, tea, Mrs Penrose, 15 London street, 15 packages; Anderson’s Bay residents, per M. Campbell, grocer, 18 packages; North End residents, from the store of W. Strong, 30 packages; North End residents, from Wardell Bros, and Co., 18 packages; North End residents, from M'Farlane and Co., butter from Mrs J. Dick, Park street, tea and butter from Mrs J. Turnbull, Opoho; tea and cocoa from “ Anon.”; butter from Mrs G. Gray, George street; butter and tea from Mrs J. Wallace, Castle street; 81b butter from “Anon.”; Mrs Stevenson, one case jam; bread from Fraser and Sons “Rata”; Ernest Adams, Ltd., live block cakes; a N.E, Valley fruiterer, per Herb Winter, two cases apples and one case vegetables; Roslyn residents, per Laurenson and Son, 1G packages; Anderson’s Bay residents, per Pringle and Son, 24 packages; Roslyn residents, per Armit and Co., Bishopscourt, 25 packages; Carroll street, per H. H. Croft, grocer, 12 packages; South Dunedin residents, per Baines Bros., Cargill road, 19 packages; Albert, Stuart, Cargill and Smith streets, collected by Masters D. Tuck well and Bert and Jack Hayman, 40 packages; North End residents, per Young and Anderson, 11 packages; Musselburgh residents, from the stores of Mesdames Scurr and Young, per E. Lippert, 24 packages; Maori Hill residents, per Mr Graham, 81 packages; St. Clair residents, per J. T. Smith, 160 packages; Roslyn residents, from the stores of Mackay Bros, and Newman, per Tom Douglas, 90 packages; St. Kilda residents, from the stores of Michie, Roy, Sneddon, Dunstan, Cuttle, Stevenson, Tyler, per Mr Quarterman, 135 packages ; Mr Wheelwright, butcher, St. Kilda, per Mr Quarterman, one basket meat; North End residents, from the store of Matheson and Moir —packages from Mrs Gilchrist, Queen street, Mrs Bray, Castle street, Mrs Bagshaw, Elder street, Mrs Lazarus, Gardens, and 17 packages from Mrs Anderson, 570 George street; Mrs Fotheringham, whitebait; South Dunedin residents, from Wright’s, Cargill road, per Mr Taylor, one package; Mornington residents, per H. Weir, 30 packages; Mornington residents, per E. and L. Duff, from the stores of Frank Shirley, H. Wood and Son, George Gibb, Wolfenden and Russell, and Mr Anderson, 109 packages; North Dunedin residents, collected by the Girl Guides and delivered by Alex Allan, King street, 82 packages; Roslyn residents, per Goodley and Sons, 116 " packages; N.E, Valley residents, per Sam M'Bratney, from the stores of A. V, Thomson, J. Harvey and Co., C. Barnett, W. Mowat and Co., 147 packages. PORT CHALMERS UNEMPLOYED The unemployed at Port Chalmers convened a meeting on Saturday to discuss and ascertain why the new scheme was not put into operation''at the Port Chalmers centre, which includes part of Waikouaiti. The scheme in the city commenced yesterday, and surprise was expressed that the old conditions were still to remain in force, including the stand-down week, in the Port Chalmers district. The meeting appointed a deputation —Messrs J. Duncan and W. Anderson (representing Port Chalmers) and A. Middleditch (Waikouaiti) —to wait upon the Mayor. Cr T. Anderson introduced the deputation, and after hearing it the Mayor (Mr Watson agreed with the deputation that it was ridiculous that the new scheme was not applicable to every centre. He further agreed that this week’s allotment was insufficient, and accordingly he agreed immediately to send a further telegram to the Minister of Public Works urging the immediate introduction of the new scheme and meantime an increase in the allotment to relieve the dire distress revealed by the deputation. UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ MOVEMENT A general meeting of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement was held in the Tabernacle Hall, King street, on Thursday. Mr G. Geddes (president) occupied the chair. Correspondence was read from the secretary of the local Unemployed Committee, the genera] secretary of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, Wellington, and the secretary of the Waitati Unemployed Workers’ Movement regarding forming a new branch. The election of executive by ballot resulted as follows: —President, Mr B. O’Donnell; vicepresident, Mr E. W. Braithwaite; secretary, Mr F. O’Rorke; committee— Messrs G. Geddes, S. Ikin, W. G. Robinson, R. Matheson, E. Powell, J. Sterling, G. Applegate, J. Dalton, W. A. Dyson, and H. M'Farlane. The following resolution was carried: —That we protest against the statements made by the Presbyterian Assembly that the Unemployed Workers’ Movement does not represent the unemployed. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr G. Geddes for his past services in the chair. WITHDRAWAL OF RATION ISSUE DISSATISFACTION AMONG WORKERS. (Pick United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. Troubles of a minor nature occurred on both of the Wellington relief jobs to-day by way of protest against the lack of definite announcements in regard to the issue of rations under Mr Coates’s new scheme, which comes into force to-day. Under the old scheme four-day men received full rations for the week following the week off, half rations for the week following, and quarter rations for the week following that in urgent cases. Under the now scheme no rations whatever arc given, the 10s more which the four-day men receive taking their place. Arrangements are being made to allow men to work half an hour extra on working days in order to accumulate a reserve of time in hand against possible wet weather. This time will not be paid, for in the ordinary course, but

will be paid for in the weeks in which it is used to make up for days on which it is impossible to work. The Hataitai gang struck, and is still out, but some other gangs turned down the strike proposal at meetings held on the jobs, Other gangs have sent delegates into the city to discuss matters, continuing to work meantime. All gangs are going more or loss “ slow ” in protest, hut so far are peaceable. WELLINGTON RELIEF WORKERS DISSATISFIED WITH NEW SCALE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. Four or five gangs on relief work left their jobs to-day. This afternoon several hundred men met at the Basin Reserve and decided to strike against the payment of rent and the levy as a protest against the new scale of relief. A number of police was present, and Commissioner Wolilmann also paid a visit. There were several speakers, most of whom suggested the formation of a Relief Workers’ Union independent of the relief workers’ section of the General Labourers’ Union and of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, which one speaker claimed was but camouflage for the Communist Party. No finality was reached upon this point, but a large majority declared in favour of a strike. A Committee of Action was set up to meet in the Trades Hall to consider ways and means, and to report to a meeting to be held in the Basin Reserve at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. It was reported that a deputation had gone to interview the Prime Minister and the Minister of Employment, and the meeting awaited its report. It was later stated that the representatives had been unable to see either Mr Forbes or Mr Coates, but that Mr R. Semple had arranged that a deputation should meet the Unemployment Board, and that the result would he announced at to-morrow morning’s meeting.