UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT

REDUCTION OF RELIEF PAY PLEA FOR RECONSIDERATION ARCHBISHOP AVERILL’S APPEAL. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 15. Archbishop Averill has sent the following letter to the New Zealand Herald concerning the cut of 10 per cent, in the pay and sustenance of relief workers: — “The many attempts to impress upon the Unemployment Board the gravity of making a 10 per cent, cut in the relict pay and sustenance will be endorsed, 1 venture to think, by all fair-minded and thoughtful citizens. The resolution ot the executive of the Council of Christian Congregations and the letter of Archdeacon Mae Murray are sufficient evidence that the churches arc of one mind in urging upon the Government the seriousness of the step taken and the terrible hardships inflicted upon thousands of honest men and tens of thousands of suffering wives and children. The season of Christmas is surely an invitation to all men and women of goodwill to manifest their sympathy one with another and to try to bear one another s burdens.. In spite of all the work of the social organisations, which have done and are doing their utmost to relieve distress, in spite of all the good work done by the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund and many other agencies, the problem is really too bif for the funds at the disposal of local agencies, and can only really be met by Government action. “ It is in no sense with a desire to harass the Government or the Labour Department that I put forward this additional plea for the reconsideration of this question, but in the hope that humanitarian considerations may outweigh financial ones. I am conscious of what our request means, but I am conscious also of the greater need of many brave women and children who have no happy Christmas to look forward to. “I would appeal to the men who are compelled to work for relief pay to continue the brave front which so. many of them have manifested during this trying time and not to jeopardise their own cause by yielding to any go slow policy or doing anything which will weaken the hands of those who are really anxious to help them.”

BUILDING SUBSIDY SCHEME EXTENSION OF DATE ANNOUNCED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 15. In the course of a statement regarding scheme No. 10 (subsidised buildings) the Acting Minister of Employment (Mr Adam Hamilton) said that following atron" representations the Unemployment °Board, in enlargement of its previous intentions, had now decided that the subsidy should be paid on registered unemployed labour engaged on all works approved in respect of applications lodged on or before December 31, 1932, irrespective of whether such labour was engaged prior to or after that date, but applications lodged after December 31, under this scheme, would not be considered on work extending beyond June 30. 1933. The subsidy would, however, be reduced by 50 per cent, after that date. . LOCAL ACTIVITIES No. 3"DISTRICT The depot in Dowling street will be open for coal orders to-day, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again on Friday, December 23. It should be noted that orders on the latter date cannot be delivered until after Christmas. During January the depot will be open on each Friday morning. , , _ , , The • amount allowed by _ the central executive for Christmas gifts "will be used to the best advantage by the depot officials. The committee acknowledges with thanks a parcel from Archerfield. At the last meeting of the executive for the district grateful appreciation was recorded of the faithful and efficient service of all depot workers, especially of Mrs Armstrong, Miss Adams, and ! Sister Elinor, who had borne the brunt of the work and had been constant and regular in their attendance. Mr J. Ironside and Mr J. Farquharson, in the unavoidable absence of the chairman of the Committee '(the Rev. W. Allen Stevely) both paid tribute to the tact and faithfulness of these voluntary workers, and stated that thanks v ere also due to Messrs J. M'Adam, F. Foote, J. Heaney, J. Reid, and others who had rendered valuable assistance at the depot. , . . Mr Ironside said that, speaking on bis own behajf as secretary and on behalf of the committee, he wished to express appreciation of the liberal manner in which the press had opened its columns in the cause of the relief of the- unemployed. The committee is indebted to Messrs Speight and Co. for the free use of the rooms in Dowling street. The executive endorsed a recommendation from the Women’s Committee of the No. 3 depot to the central executive that a conference of representatives of all district depots should be held before the end of January, to consider matters of policy and procedure for the incoming year. CENTRAL MISSION CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND Insufficient donations arc yet to hand to provide the 500 Christmas parcels which the Central Mission is endeavouring to send out to deserving families. Very many families have sought the relief of the Social Service Department of the Mission, and each parcel will cost about 10s to 12s. The size of the family will be considered and the Rev. L. is, Neale further appeals for support at this' particular time of the year.