UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 50

UNEMPLOYMENT.

HELP FOR EX-SOLDIERS. £5OO FOR DISTRIBUTION LOCALLY. As a result of the efforts of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association the Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board has granted £4500 for distribution among the returned soldiers’ associations of the Dominion for the relief of unemployment. At the last Dominion conference it was decided to ask the board to grant the current year's interest on the funds for the relief of distress among ex-soldiers brought about by unemployment. Ad vice has now been received by the local association that the board has made a grant, and that the amount for distribution locally is £5OO. Of that amount £3OO is now available for distribution, and the remainder can be procured on application. The method to be adopted in the allocation of the money will probably be decided on at the next meeting of the executive. The order in which preference will be given in distributing the money is as follows :— Married men with families. Married men without families Single men with dependents. Single men without dependents. It is essential that all ex-soldiers must present their discharges when making application. The, suggestion that the Canteen Funds Board should use the interest on the sum of about £200,000 held by it in giving immediate assistance to unemployed soldiers was made a few months ago by the Auckland Association, and subsequently endorsed by the Dominion conference. Before the conference was held, however, the Dunedin executive expressed opposition to the proposal. It was considered that if the hoard made a grant it would be practically giving a dole, and the opinion was expressed that the money should he retained until the returned men reached o’d age. and were unable to provide for themselves.