COUNTRY WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 19224, 14 May 1921, Page 4

COUNTRY WORKS

SCHEME TO RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT. The threatened unemployment was referred to at the County Council meeting yesterday when the Engineer, Mr B. C. Basstian, recommended that all votes be expended. The recommendation was adopted. The report stated that the Department had deferred the issue of authority, and he was of the opinion, that it would be advisable for the Council to consider whether an offer should not be made to the Department, that the Council would carry out the work, and stand out of the money until the Department could provide it. This system was adopted four years ago, and had worked satisfactorily. As it seems probable that, when next season commences, many men will be desirous of work, it would be a serious matter if the whole of the unauthorised votes were delayed indefinitely. If the whole of the votes offered to the Council by the Department were accepted, there would be still over 40 to be laid off. The amount of Public Works money to be provided for the work was £9,686, and added to thia would be the County subsidies, an additional £3,463. Councillor Robertson, inspeaking to thg report, said that he approved of the Engineer’s suggestion. Tliere was going to be a great amount of unemployment, and he was of the opinion that the Council could get its work done fairly cheap. Tha same scheme had operated to the Council’i benefit previously. He moved -that th* Council carry on works out of revenue and apply afterwards for the Government subsidy. Councillor Norman, in seconding the motion, said that the carrying out of the works would employ a lot of labour, and it would be the means of getting a lot of work finished in the winter. The motion was then put and carried.