BOROUGH WORKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15594, 10 August 1921, Page 8

BOROUGH WORKS.

CCESTIC’N OF I’’XEMPLOYMENT

llte matter ot the unemployed in Gisl*orne aas brought up at, the meeting ol the Borough Uultueil last night bv Cr. Bicklord. who said In; had noticed that Hie responsibility had been thrown upon the- local bodies. Cr. Bickford enquired it the Council could not proceed iiitli some oi the local works, and thereby assist the miemploy ed. He asked that it the Cvinotnl road work could not be gone on will): other sections, might hi; proceeded with. I' would ho useless to go further if all the money on hand was to he spent on (Jrinund road. As a local body, the Council, in conjunction with other local bodies, would have to consider the- unemployment question. (Something would have to he done. There wen: 257 names now on the list of unemployed. and he had reason to believe that 400 could do with work in Gisborne: The Mayor stated Unit while in Wellington be would place the facts before the authorities. Cr. Coleman said that the Ormond road work could be carried out with the £17.000 still in band. The Mayor said that the Council would commence when it got the money. (.V. Coleman: When will that be? The Mavor: In January;

Ur. Coleman: Yes, but before then many men will tighten lip their belts. Why can’t we proceed with the work straight away?

The Mayor: I want to see what the contract price is first. The £17,000 is for; trams, and we have nothing for roads, and the two items must go together. If 1 can get the money l can substitute some date for January for the first instalment.

Cr. Bowie said that the Finance Committee had met, and had realised the urgency of the unemployment. Mainly on Unit account the Mayor had linen asked to go to Wellington to see il he could get the money as quickly as possible.

(Y. Todd voiced the opinion that the Council V.uih doing all it could. The Mayor should he authorised to get the money even at a high rate of interest. The Mayor: When wo. secure tin money' the Council can meet and discuss the tenders.

The engineer, in answer to a question, said that the Ormond .road work could milt be separated from ,the trains. i

Ur. ball : I would like to get Iho estjmalo for the laying of the trams down Ormond road to the borough boundary. The engineer: There will bo next to nothing left for the trams. It will be two years yet before* wo want tho ears Or. Hall: 1 don’t lliink either (lie Council or the public realise that when we put the Irani lines down ,to Mangapapa, wo oil! have no money for a ear. Wo- cannot realise what a serious pusiI ion we are in.

The Mayor: Yes, that, is so; we cannot disguise tlnil.i Vie have enough money for one car. ‘ If Iho money eoirte's in hand I will call a special meeting o* the Council to consider the whole mailer.