UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 77

UNEMPLOYMENT.

POSITION IN POVERTY BAY. GISBORNE, February 29. A meeting of representatives of local bodies was held this afternoon to consider relief works for the unemployed, delegates being present from the Hospital Board, the Borough Council, and the Cook, Waikohu, and Wairoa County Councils. The meeting was convened by the Hospital Board, whose chairman (Mr W. G. Sherrat) emphasised the fact that the board’s charitable aid bill was steadily mounting up, due plainly to the unemployment problem. Must of those in receipt of relief wanted work, not charity. The Deputy Mayor (Mr J. Blair) said the council intended to interview the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams) on his next visit to Gisborne on the matter. One speaker urged that the Government should start work on the GisborneWairoa railway from the Gisborne end and thus avoid the necessity for men having to keep tw-o homes going when on relief work. It was eventually decided that the Government be urged to adopt a policy of spreading relief works among local bodies and making grants accordingly. The speakers said that local bodies could carry out works such as road improvements, etc., if the finance were supplied by thi! Government. He suggested that each local body should prepare a list of the works to b e done. The chairman undertook to forward the resolution to the Minister/.