THE UNEMPLOYED

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED

RELIEF WORK LABOURERS AT MOUNT ROSKILL MANY TO BE DISMISSED (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 24. The .Mount Roskill Road Board which, although one of the minor local bodies, has been employing a large number of relief workers, recently decided to dismiss 18 permanent employees and make certain proposals to the Unemployment Board. Last night the Road Board received a reply from the Commissioner, who said the Unemployment Board would not under any circumstances agree to maintenance work being carried out under Scheme No. 5. Further, it viewed with great concern the dismissal of permanent employees, and pointed out if all local bodies acted similarly the unemployed would be increased considerably. The board considered rate reduction should not be sought at the present time, but all available funds be utilized for the relief of unemployment. A member of the Road 1 Board remarked: "The Unemployment Board distinctly tells us we cannot dismiss staff and carry on the work with unemployed labour. We will have to decide whether to reinstate or do away with unemployed labour.”

On the chairman’s motion it was decided that the board which has been .employing 800 men in relief work should from next Monday employ no more than 200, preference to be given to local ratepayers and residents.

SECOND AR Y I INDUSTRIES NECESSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT. UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD'S WORK. Wellington, June 24. The development of secondary industries as a means of removing the unemployment evil was urged by Mr G. W. Leadley at the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference to-day. Last year manufactured goods in New Zealand were valued at £35,000,000, said Mr Leadley. If that sum could be increased by £10,000,000 it would give employment to 15,000 more men. Having classified the unemployed and ascertained the number of skilled men, the problem of the Unemployment Board was to get skilled workers back to their vocations; they could not all be turned into farmers. The board had come to the decision that the best method to put these men in industry was by an intensive campaign in favour of New Zealand manufactures. Under the present schemes a great deal had been done to bring land into cultivation, and much useful and reproductive work had been done all over the Dominion. The cost had been £650,000, more than the whole of the year’s revenue from the unemployment levy. It had been suggested that the board should adopt a comprehensive land settlement scheme, and a five-year plan was suggested by Mr Coates. It was an excellent scheme which would give employment to 4000 men for five years, then leave 4000 extra settlers, but that scheme would have taken all the funds for 4000 men and it was not adequate with 44,000 unemployed. The board had done the next best thing in endeavouring to increase production by a system on land already occupied. Mr Leadley proceeded to give instances of good work done under schemes 4A and 48. One good thing which would come out ol the depression like a flower growing out of an ugly stem was an increasing desire among citizens to serve their fellow-men on unemployment committees, giving to relief funds and in many other directions. Such help could not be measured in £.s.d., but it was important in the life of the nation. Special reference was made to the work of Mr Gurdekin,'vice-dhairman of the board, whose knowledge of economics and finance had been of tremendous value to the board. A resolution was passed expressing appreciation of the work of the Unemployment Board and urging the provision of further finance to enable the board to continue its work and assist in land development on a large scale.