THE UNEMPLOYED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3671, 22 July 1924, Page 23

THE UNEMPLOYED.

MEETING AT QUEEN’S GARDENS. An advertisement, signed by Mr S. Boreham on behalf of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, calling a meeting of the unemployed, attracted between 20 and 30 men to the Queen’s Gardens at noon on Friday. As tile attendance was so meagre, Mr noreham said he would not go inside the gardens, but would make his remarks from the footpath. He expressed his annoyance at the small attendance, and from it concluded that either the people did not read tfleir papers or that there was no unemployment. However, he knew only too well that there were unemployed in Dunedin, and the meeting had been called with a view to assisting the wives and families of the unemployed, and to endeavour to assist the men to find work. He could not understand the reason of the small attendance, especially as the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley), C'r MacManus, and himself were trying to do something for them. Even the Hon. J. G. Coates (a member of the Massey Government) was attempting to do something, and had informed tho Mayor that uie Public Works Department could employ 50 men immediately on the Lawrence-Roxfcurgh railway. Tho Mayor said that he was there to show ms sympathy with the unemployed. He knew the position was bad, because large numbers of men in search of work had called upon him at the Town Hall, and they were men who w'ere really anxious to get work. At present the names of 100 unemployed were on the books at the Town Hall, and he understood that Mr Evans, of the Trades Hall, had a great many more names. Lnfortunately, the commencement of building in connection with the Exhibition had accentuated the position, as men from all over New Zealand had come to Dunedin in search of work. He had received a telegram from the Minister of Public Works stating that 50 men could be employed at once on the Lawrence Roxburgh railway and on irrigation works. There was an objection to married men going into the country, but if they wanted work in order to earn money with which to keep their homes together it would, perhaps, be as well for them to do so in the meantime. The city engineer would' commence some w-orks within a fortnight to help to relieve the position. Evervtnmg possible was being done. Mr Boreham again expressed bis regret at the small attendance, for which he saw no apparent reason. He contended that young unmarried men w'ho were out of work for any length of time became a menace to the community, as idleness led to mischief. The trouble was that many of them would not go into the country, but preferred to “loaf” about the town. Thev should go into the country and “carry the swag,” as he had had to do as a young man. In conclusion, Mr Boreham thanked the Mayor for attending.