SPECIAL FUND

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 8

SPECIAL FUND

THE UNEMPLOYED

COMMITTEE TACKLING

PROBLEM

OUTCOME OF MEETING WORK ON BLUFF ROAD The first meeting of the general Unemployment Committee was held last night in the Council Chambers, his Worship the Mayor, Mr J. D. Campbell, presiding. A lengthy and comprehensive discussion took place on the ways and means of alleviating the present situation by combined action between local bodies of both town and country. The most important result of the conference was the adoption of the following motion, moved by Mr John Gilkison, and seconded by Mr C. Bradfield: —

“That the Mayor be recommended to open a fund with a view to raising £lOOO to be spent, together with the sum of £lOOO from the Southland County Council, in completing the reconstruction of a section of the Bluff Road, on condition that the amount is subsidized on a £1 for £1 basis by the Government, and that the Main Highways Board subsidizes the expenditure on a £3 for £1 basis; and that a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, and Messrs J. Gilkison, F. G. Hall-Jones, and J. McNeill be set up to obtain the approval of the Government and the Borough and County Councils.’'

Those present were Messrs John Gilkison (Borough Council), W. Hinchey (Borough Council and Bluff Harbour Board); W. C. Denham (Labour), T. O'Byrne ,(Borough Council), F. Trapeki (Chairman of the Southland County Council), J. McNeill (Southland County Council), C. Bradfield (Chamber of Commerce), M. N. Hyndman (Bluff Harbour Board), F. G. Hall-Jones (Borough Council), P. C Weenink (Labour Department), W. G. Pearce (District Engineer, Public Works Department), F. M. Corkill (Borough Engineer), C. L. Grange (Town Clerk), J A. McPherson (Reserves Curator), J. W. Smith and J. McCrostie. Mr Campbell thanked all those present for attending. He apologized for the absence of Messrs T. Pryde, R. A. Anderson, L. A. Niederer and John Matheson. The reason for calling the meeting was an attempt to solve the unemployment question in Southland. The council felt that it was work which should not fall entirely on the Borough Council; there were always men drifting in from the country _ It was difficult to find reproductive borough work in Invercargill, and it was impossible to employ men just digging holes and filling them up again. Since his election to the mayoralty, he had realized the unemployment question was much more serious than he had imagined. There were some, really very deserving cases; he regretted to say that there were many women and children, ill-fed and ill-clothed. Doubtless with suggestions from the meeting, it would be possible to devise ways and means of assisting the unemployed question. Councillor O’Byrne suggested that each one present give his opinion and ideas. That would be the best way of ascertaining lhe feeling of the meeting, and then some concrete form of alleviating the unemployment could be devised.

Mr M. N. Hyndman said that an agenda paper had been prepared and he thought it would be better to discuss that clause by clause.

It was decided to follow this course.

Registration of Unemployed

The first clause discussed was: —“Establishment of a central bureau for registration of unemployed; to fix area from which unemployed will be registered; to fix length of residence in district which will qualify unemployed men for relief work.” Mr W. C. Denham expressed approval of the idea, but Mr Hinchey asked whether there was not already such an office in existence.

Mr Weenink, Inspector of Factories, said his department had run for some years an office at which all the unemployed were able to register. If a man failed to call fourteen days after his first filing, it was assumed that he had obtained work and his name was struck off the rolls. He considered it would be a mistake to open up any further unemployment office; in the past there had been an unemployment office at the Labour Department, the Trades Hall and the Town Engineer’s office. That was an uneconomic arrangement and one that was unfair to the men. It had to be realized that the Department did not claim that its figures were a full list of the unemployed, but it was a fair index. He suggested that the Labour Department’s Bureau should be accepted by the committee as the official unemployment office. Mr Pearce, of the Public Works Department, said the Government Labour Bureau was accepted by the Government as the official source by which it could judge the unemployment question. As that was so, he thought that it was essential that that should be the official office. Mr Corkill dissented. As it was the Borough Council that gave the work, in order to avoid duplication, he considered the office should be established with the Borough Council. He had found that it was necessary to investigate fully every individual case, and this was done as much as possible by his staff. He felt, however, that a fuller inquiry should be made by responsible persons. Many of the men were single, some were birds of passage; he read a list of addresses on his list from all over Southland and as far afield as the Roes Sea whalers. The Borough Council was surely not responsible for all of those, and it was essential that the lists should be fully revised, but he felt the borough should have the list. That would be simpler than referring men to and from the engineer’s office and the Labour Department’s office. Mr O'Byrne said he felt it would be better for all the listing to be done by the Labour Bureau, and when the engineer required men he should send a request to the bureau which would send a list of men, with their qualifications, to the engineer’s office.

Mr Weenink agreed with the previous speaker. It was erroneous to suggest that the Borough Council was the only body which assisted unemployment. Between 80 and 120 men had been employed for the past six months by the Public Works Department. If the Labour Bureau sent a list of men to the engineer he could investigate it to his heart’s content. Mr Hall-Jones said it was useless to argue about which was the best office for registration, but to arrange some system of investigating the merits of the men by a competent tribunal. Mr Denham said that, with all respect to the Labour Department, there was an air of cold officialdom about merely putting a man’s name on a list. He felt the committee should keep in close touch with the unemployed*

Mr Weenink moved that the unemployed should bn advised to register at the Government Unemployment Bureau and that a committee consisting of a representative of the Borough Council, a representative of the Hospital Board and u representative of the workers should investigate cases. Mr McNeill seconded the motion,, which was carried. .

Area of Operation. The second part of the clause, “To fix the area from which unemployed will be registered,” was then considered. Mr. O’Byrne moved that the area be fixed as the whole of Southland exclusively. The Mayor said that had been his idea all along. He did not feel that there wds any responsibility to give work to men from Australia of other parts of New Zealand. Mr. Hall-Jones said that personally he felt the committee was making a mistake in not confining the area of work to the immediate vicinity of Invercargill. If anything in the nature of. an , unemployment lean was raised, there would be men flocking from all over the district. Mr. Smith eaid he felt sure that the motion would pass as it stood. There was a responsibility to alleviate unemployment all over the province. The motion that the qualifications of an applicant to receive work should be six months’ residence in any part of Southland. On the motion of the chairman, the following clause was carried: “Suggestion that people be asked to advise the central bureau of any work which they have to offer.” It was also decided to advertise the request. The next clause was “Letter from the Invercargill Branch Otago General Labourer’s Union suggesting that the proper authorities be urged to undertake afforestration schemes in Southland and suggesting that land at Lake Te Anau and the University Endowment at Hokonui will be suitable for the purpose.” Mr. Denham said he had heard unofficially that the Government was favourable to the suggestion. It was decided that the recommendation should be sent in to the Government.

When the suggestion from Mr. H. P. Campbell, "that the committee run an unemployment collection day similar to Hospital Saturday; that a ribbon with a suitable motto be sold on the streets and the proceeds used for relieving unemployment; that the rally be held throughout Southland,” came up for discussion, Mr. Hinchey expressed the opinion that it would not lead anywhere. A mayor's fund would be more suitable.

The chairman said that the suggested scheme would be more universal than a mayor’s fund. Mr. McNeill said he was strongly against the idea. The system adopted should be one that would hit all pockets. Mr. Smith endorsed Mr. McNeills remarks. “It’s the willing horse that does all the work,” he .said. Mr. Bradfield supported the previous speakers and on the motion of Mr. Hinchey, it was decided that no action should be taken in connection with the suggestion.

On the Land. A further suggestion from Mr. 11. P. Campbell was received. It stated: “That arrangements be made that farmers employ single men and pay a nominal sum for wages and give in return for work done the use of one to five acres for the planting of potatoes, the crop to be the property of the employees. That the farmers allow the use of implements ami horses for working the ground and planting the crops. One year’s work to complete the contract and each month’s work to give the employee the right to a proportion of the crops. In the event of employee being unable to buy seed, the farmers to finance same and to be reimbursed when crop is sold.” Mr. Smith said it was an excellent idea and would assist struggling farmers as well as the unemployed. It was decided that the suggestion should be sent to the' Farmers Union. The following clause was referred without discussion to the Borough Council: “Suggestion from F. Hynd, Venus Street, that a road be constructed through Thomson's land from Conyers Street, Oteramika Road to the East Road; that the road could be made clear of the railway with an over bridge; that the road could be made to connect with one of the roads leading from , East Road through North Invercargill to Layard Street thus giving a thorough road from North to South boundaries of the Borough.” Bluff Road. When the following clause was brought up:—“Telegram from the Prime Minister advising that Main Highways Board had agreed to improvement work on the Invercargill to Bluff main road and had offered £3 for £1 subsidy. That the County Council has not made any move to start the work for which money was still available,” the County Council chairman, Mr. Trapski, merely moved that it be sent to the County Council for consideration. Mr McNeill added that the county council would not commit itself to any step in the matter.

Mr O’Byrne seconded Councillor Trapski’s motion. He said the county council had been lacking in its duty in not proceeding with its work. The other county councils in the South Island had done infinitely more than the Southland Council. He thought the Southland County Council needed a “bit of a shake-up.” As far as the road surfaces were concerned, the council had done good work, but there was plenty of scope for widening them. Mr Bradfield said that, much of the work done in northern counties was done entirely by the Public Works Department.

Mr McNeill said that a close investigation of the position would show that the offer was not an economic proposal. Mr Hinchey added that there was more urgent work to be done by the council than the Bluff road, but he'suggested that an addition should be made that the Government be asked to make a special grant to the country council for work on the Bluff road. Unemployment Company Discussion ensued on the following clause: —"Regarding letter which appeared in the issue of the Southland Times of 4th instant, suggesting flotation of a company, for the purpose of relieving unemployment.”

Mr Denham expressed the opinion that such a scheme would lead to complications. He moved that no action be taken in the matter.

Mr Gilkison said he felt that the scheme was a good one. It would be premature to discuss the matter as briefly as had been suggested.

Mr Denham: It seems to me that the whole idea is merely this committee duplicated. Moreover, would the Government favour the proposed company?

Mr Gilkison said the idea of the scheme was that subscriptions should be gained from the public, and the donors would then be able to have some say in seeing that the expenditure of the money was done wisely by electing their own directors. There was not much chance of getting a Government subsidy for the committee.

Mr Smith said the idea had appealed to him immensely, but the same difficulty existed as he had mentioned before. Subscription lists always showed the same names on them, whereas a loan would touch all pockets. Mr McNeill agreed that the unemployed were unable to tender for a big job, and he could see how the company proposed could assist them in that way. There would be a certain responsibility on the company, but. not much chance of a loss. Mr Gilkison added that as things stood there was no body that troubled much about finding work for the unemployed. Mr Denham said that clause four had covered that question. The chairman said that the committee had been intended not so much to look for work, but to investigate the merits of case*

The difficulty he saw in the idea of a company was its cumbersomeness, said Mr O'Byrne. If it had to be registered, there would be a long time before the thing could be started. The present committee should be the company and should “dig up” work.

Mr Campbell suggested that a motion could be carried leaving the matter over in the meantime for consideration. Mr Hall-Jones said that cold water should not be thrown on the scheme. Even if no action was taken in the meantime, the committee could nevertheless express its approval of the general plan of the scheme. Mr Hinchey suggested that a committee, consisting of Mr Gilkison, Mr Hall-Jones, Mr Hyndman and Mr Bradfield, should be set up to investigate the suggestion. He felt that it was a weakness on the part of the individual who wrote the letter that he did not sign his name or appear before the committee to explain the idea. Mr Denham withdrew his motion and Mr Hinchey’s motion was carried, with the addition of Mr Hinchey’s name to the committee. . ■

Mr O'Byrne introduced the following clause: “Suggestion that the Government be asked to make a grant to cover the cost of clearing and forming the two undermentioned roads at Seaward Bush: Mason’s road from the end of the present formation to the Kennington-Waimatua road; road adjoining the southern boundary of the Invercargill Municipal endowment from Powell’s road on the east to the Kenning-ton-Waimatua road on the west.” Mr Pearce asked whether it was a request for a straight-out grant. If it was, he thought there was not much chance of securing any money.

Mr McNeill said that too much attention should not be paid to past refusals. The Government would surely not fail to take some step towards alleviating unemployment. The clause was carried.

In reply to a letter from the Invercargill branch of Otago General Labourers’ Union suggesting that the union be represented on the Unemployment Committee, the nomination of Mr F. G. Blake was accepted. Question of Finance. Mr Hinchey said the most important aspect had not yet been touched on; that wasj the finance, and the possibilities of future work. He suggested that Mr Pearce and Mr Corkill should be asked what works they see in view. It seemed that there was nothing in view for finance except floating an unemployment loan. If the borough was going to borrow money to find work for the unemployed, he did not see why the county council should not do the same. The town had in some respects a more difficult job than the county council because in the country there was so much reproductive work available that was not existent in the town. A lot of the £17,000 the council had spent in the past two years had been of an unproductive nature, and it was becoming necessary to spend unemployment relief moneys in the counties. There were any amount of county roads that could be formed that would be of immense benefit to Southland generally. He felt that the county chairman and Mr McNeill should take those points into consideration. So far the county had not stood up to its responsibilities. Mr Campbell explained that during the past two years the borough had spent £20,000 on unemployment relief works, and the interest and sinking fund amounted to about £l3OO.

Mr Gilkison said that in Mr Corkill’s list there were over 80 men who came from Timpany’s and all over Southland. Mr McNeill: Y'ou don’t, need to give them work. Mr Gilkison said that Mr McNeill knew very well there were seasonal operations in the country that threw hundreds of men into the town in the off seasons, and the county council had not stood up to its responsibilities. Mr McNeill expressed the hope that the meeting would formulate some way in which the unemployed would not have to be thrown on to committees such as the present. The whole trouble with county unemployment was that farmers could not pay 14/- a day for labourers; they concentrated on fertilizers instead. Mr Gilkison: That’s the evolution of farming—not labour conditions.

Mr McNeill said that attention should be paid to conserving more jobs for the winter months, but if any suggestion of big borrowing was made, the county council would be up against it, Mr Denham said he was quite satisfied that the unemployed question was universal and was a consequence of evolution in machinery and methods of production. lie did not think an alteration of wages would affect the position much. Mr Bradfield asked wbat could be done in the way of tree-planting on borough reserves.

Mr McPherson explained that some of the land was unsuitable for afforestation and more was leased so that there would be a difficulty in that respect for the next two years. Mr Hall-Jones’s Suggestion. Mr Hall-Jones said that a policy of borrowing loans for unemployment could end only in disaster. If a public subscription for £lOOO could be obtained, and the Borough Council and County Council could raise £lOOO between them, the Government would subsidize that sum, £3 for £l, for work on the Bluff road. That total sum, he thought, would alleviate the position for this year at least.

Mr Campbell asked if any concrete suggestions were ready. If not, it would be better to set up an executive fund. Mr Gilkison said Mr Pearce seemed very reticent over what the Public Works had in view. He himself had seen anything up to 250 men employed on the Otago highways. Mr Pearce: There’s the money, £3 for £1 offered by the Highway Board for use on the Bluff road, and that’s been offered for eight or nine months. The county council’s the sticker.

Mr Campbell asked if the Government would find £3 for £1 for money raised in the manner suggested, to be used on the Bluff road. Mr Pearce: That I could not sav.

Mr McNeill said the county council was going to continue the battle with the Highways Board for a fair deal. The fact that tourists said that the Southland roads were the best seemed to militate against the possibility of getting grants. Mr Gilkison: I think you’re misled by what some people say. Bitumen is used everywhere else and is considered universally the best. You never see a gravel road in England. Mr McNeill: That may be so, but the county council can’t do bitumenizing without increasing the rates. Formulating Suggestions. Mr Hinchey said that Mr Hall-Jones’ suggestion was an excellent one. If the council could find £lOOO through the Mayor’s fund, the Government might sub»idize that by £lOOO and then with a £6OOO subsidy from the Highways Board, £BOOO could be spent on the Bluff Road and that would help the question much. He suggested that a telegram should be drafted that evening to the Prime Minister.

Mr Pearce said that he thought the Highways Board would be agreeable if there was a condition either that a section would be completed or that the whole distance should be treated in a complete stage of the formation.

Mr McNeill said that he supposed the road would have to be sealed. Mr Pearce said that the money would be taken from a special fund from the petrol tax, which applied to highways adjacent to boroughs. Such highways had-to be sealed. He could see no objection to sealing. Mr Corkill . said that in Taranaki no farmer questioned the value of sealed roads. The rates might be slightly higher but the saving in wearing on the vehicles could be seen from the fact that a certain bus fare had been reduced from 15/- to 7/6. Mr McNeill replied that sealing had been done at first in Taranaki because of the cost of gravel. In Southland, however, • gravel was very cheap.

Mr Gilkison: It’s no use talking about gravel roads. Mr Niederer can talk till he’s black in the face, but a loose gravel road is never any good for any considerable quantity of traffic. The county council is setting itself against all the other councils in New Zealand.

Mr Bradfield: It’s clear that the Government will not give any grant except for a sealed surface.

The motion given in the introductory paragraph relative to the suggestion was then carried. Mr Gilkison moved the following motion which was carried: “That the Invercargill Borough Council, the Southland County Council and the Southland Hospital Board be asked to appoint two representatives to form an executive committee to try to obtain work for the relief of unemployment.” . . It was also decided that Messrs Gilkison, Hyndman and McNeill should form a deputation to meet the Farmers’ Union and urge the necessity of. doing the utmost to reduce unemployment.

AUCKLAND’S NEEDS

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER.

(Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 6

A Hospital Board deputation which interviewed Sir Joseph IVard, asked that charitable relief should be made a national question. Mr William Wallace, chairman of the board, said the larger boards were at a disadvantage inasmuch as while the smaller boards did not contribute to unemployment relief men from outside were coming into the city and swelling the unemployed ranks here. They asked for special assistance financially to meet the strain on the larger boards.

Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said Parliament would have to be consulted before any revision of the system could be made. He had already granted £140,000 to public bodies to enable them to put men on special works. He was prepared to implement £25,000 for the Auckland City Council. If the Corporation was prepared to accept that money and provide suitable work he thought unemployment would be lifted entirely from Auckland within the next few months, though his own view was that the deputation had suggested something which could not be done, lhe request would receive careful consideration.

ANOTHER DEPUTATION

UNSKILLED LABOURERS’ POSITION.

Auckland, June 6.

Urging that something be done to provide more employment for skilled and unskilled workers a deputation representing 32 labour unions waited on Sir Joseph Ward.

Mr Savage, M.P., in introducing the deputation, said unemployment in Auckland was worse than for over 20 years.

Other speakers stressed the urgency of providing employment for unskilled labour. Sir Joseph said he was anxious to do all in his power to help the unemployed and had already authorized £140,000 of the Government supplementary funds to subsidize work. The offer of £25,000 to the Auckland City Council still held good, but as far as he could judge no action had been initiated to take advantage of the offer. Wellington and Christchurch had accepted assistance of that nature. The Government had provided a large amount of relief work on railway construction and other public works and there were more than two and a-half times as many men so employed in the North Island as compared with the South Island. They were prepared to put on five or six thousand extra men on railway works. He would confer with the Mayor and the City Council with a view to their taking advantage of his offer 0f£25,000 towards a scheme of new works.