UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 22187, 1 December 1933, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT

GORE COMMITTEE. FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. At the fortnightly meeting of the Gore Unemployment Committee last night there were present:—Messrs W. D. Shelton (chairman), R. W. Noake, S. Newell, W. O’Byrne, J. Sleeman, J. Hunter and G. W. Whittingham. It was reported that the sum of £25 had be.en made available for the relief of distress among unemployed girls in Gore. The money would be administered by the postmaster (Mr Noake) and Mrs Dickie subject to recommendations from the committee which had been assisting unemployed girls. A petition was received from the Pukerau gang asking that the committee allow travelling time. The secretary (Mr E. Melvin) said that the men left Gore at 7.30 a.m., had half an hour for lunch and left the job at 4.30 p.m. Mr Noake said it appeared to be a matter for the County Council. Mr Whittingham said the County Council had laid it down that the men on relief works must work eight hours. In Invercargill the men were compelled to pay transport, which they did not in Gore. From what he knew of conditions in other districts the Gore gangs were in a better position than those elsewhere. The secretary and Mr Whittingham were deputed to draft a suitable reply in the terms of the discussion. The Unemployment Commissioner’s circular outlining the conditions of Christmas holidays was received. It was stated that all workers in the Gore area would receive a week’s pay without work. The conditions were the same as last year, Mr O’Byrne brought up the question of the possibility of getting a few extra days’ work for the men before Christmas, and it was decided to suggest this to the board. It was reported that the board was prepared to submit to the Borough Council a proposal to receive the assistance of the relief workers for the extension of the Crombie and Elizabeth streets sewers on condition that the men be employed full time at standard wages. The board would allow for men engaged on this work the ordinary allocation under No. 5 Scheme. Tlie secretary reported that he had forwarded a letter to the board making strong representations for an increased allocation for Gore. No reply had yet been received.