UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21649, 20 May 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS METHODS OF BOARD GIVE OFFENCE (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. At a hurriedly called meeting of the Wellington Citizens’ Unemployment Committee to-day the chairman (Mr J. I. Goldsmith) tendered his resignation. The grounds for bis action are contained in a lengthy statement, in which he sets out that the committee has never received from the Unemployment Board or the Minister a statement setting out specifically the nature of the committee’s powers or duties, the scope of its functions, .or the extent of its jurisdiction. The committee cannot, he says, expect to function properly unless it is given the right to assume responsibility for all the activities connected with unemployment in Wellington. Among particular causes of complaint Mr Goldsmith dwells upon the matter of application for exemption from going to the unemployment camps, the whole matter being removed from the committee’s province, and the committee being completely impotent. Within the past fortnight Mr Goldsmith says the Unemployment Board directed the certifying officer to change the classification of eacli registered unemployed man in accordance with the revised scheme, but no communication on this most important and vital subject was sent to the committee, and it had only learnt of the change after the work had been done. He was positive that if the committee had been given the opportunity to consider the proposed change it would have been possible for it to make representations to the Government with the object of securing a postponement of the reclassification until such time as Mr . Coates was ready to bring into effect his sustenance proposals. If this had been done it was not stating the position too extravagantly to say that the whole of the present unfortunate trouble would have been avoided, and the reputation of Wellington would not have been so sadly injured. “There is nothing to be gained by carrying on the work of this committee, as it is obvious that our sphere of usefulness is ended. I propose, therefore, to resign my position as chairman and a member of the Wellington Citizens’ Unemployment Committee, leaving to each of you to say whether he will do likewise. In my opinion the members of the committee should call a general meeting and place their resignations in the hands of the Mayor.” Following Mr Goldsmith’s lead, all the members of the committee resigned. Speaking to an Evening Post reporter the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) paid a warm tribute to the work performed by Mr Goldsmith and members of the Wellington Citizens’ Unemployment Committee. He said that Mr Goldsmith, in particular, had carried a very heavy burden and had shown great capacity in handlirig the Avork. He realised that Mr Goldsmith could not be expected to carry on indefinitely, but he hoped that he would still be able to take a live interest in welfare work. LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME PLACING OF 5000 MEN PROPOSED. - (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. A scheme to place 5000 men on the land as a means of overcoming the unemployment problem was placed before the Minister of Employment (Mr J. G. Coates), the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr G. E. Macmillan) by Mr W. Sullivan, Mayor of Whakatane, and Messrs P. B. Baird and A, C. Sutherland, representing a committee of residents in Whakatane district who had formulated it. The basis is an internal loan of £6,150,000, and the proposed settlement is of a permanent character, Crown land suitable for a dairying scheme to be open to anyone who, in the opinion of a committee appointed to the central scheme, would become a suitable settler and who is not possessed of sufficient land to make a living. The Ministers agreed that the scheme was worthy of consideration. LOCAL RELIEF ACTIVITIES WORK FOR TO-DAY. The following groups will report for work to-day:— • D.C.C. Reserves Department.—B a.m., at Opoho Football Ground, groups 502, 503, 504, and 505. MORAY PLACE REST ROOM Lectures have been given at the Moray Place Rest Room during the week by Miss Dora West and Dr E. N. Herrington, both of which were listened to with profit and appreciation. A lecture will be given by Mr Lloyd Ross this afternoon. .. It is hoped that the concert which is to be given to-morrow night in the Concert Chamber will so augment the money contributed by the citizens as to render any further financial appeal unnecessary during the winter. The Men’s Own will bo conducted as Usual by students in the room' on Sunday. Lectures arc being arranged for the coming week. PROTEST FROM WAITATI A meeting of the Waitati branch of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement was held on May 17, when the following motion was passed:—“That this meeting protests against farmers utilising unemployed workers for cutting scrub and gorse on road lines adjoining their fences, on the grounds that it is impossible for them to bring this land into production.” UNEMPLOYMENT CONCERT To-morrow night there will be presented in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall a concert in aid of the Moray Place Unemployment Rest Rooms. The programme will be supplied by the Moray Place Congregational Choir, supported by leading performers of the city. The effort deserves to receive the unstinted support of the public, having as its object the relief and assistance of those unfortunate men who at the present time arc without the means of earning a livelihood. A considerable amount of time and energy has been spent in preparing this entertainment, and it is hoped that the result will encourage those responsible for the effort to continue their good work. Those contributing to the programme will be: Signorina Rossi, Miss Evelyn Shepard, Miss Mary Pratt. Miss Agnes Guy, Miss Eve Watson, Mr Ernest Drake, Mr John Leech, Mr G. W. Johnstone. Mr Benton. Master Lux Macdonald. Miss Anita Winkcl. Mrs H. C. Campbell, Mr Alec Regan and Mr W. le Gal. The choir will be conducted by Mr Alfred Walmslcy.