UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19900, 19 June 1926, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT

PLANS FOR RELIEF. TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVE. In view of the large amount of unemployment in Southland at the present time the Town Council has started relief works in various parts of the town. The main centre of activity is in Tweed street where men are employed in reforming the roadway. The plan to be followed is on the same lines to that successfully carried out in Tay street where grass plots were laid down in the centre of the road. Conversing with a Times reporter yesterday Mr T. O. Fox (town engineer) said that these were road improvements and not beautifications. Tweed street was 132 feet wide and unless the road formation was above the water channel the water would be on the road. The idea, Mr Fox said, was to form a narrow road twenty feet wide on each side of the plot. This Would save a great deal of maintenance, make a better road and improve the appearance of the street. Altogether fifteen men were employed on the road works in addition to a number in the reserves. Only married men were taken on and for only four days in the week. The men who were on one week will not necessarily be taken on the next week. This was expected to extend a certain amount of relief to thoise out of work. PUBLIC WORKS. The Public Works Department has set aside certain works in addition to those of the Council and if it is found necessary work will be commenced within the next few days. A survey has been taken of bush land on the western side of the Pourakino river on a Lands Department loan block and the nature of the work will be the clearing of the bush. It is expected that some dozen men will be taken on.