WORKLESS CHINESE

Southland Times, Issue 22348, 13 June 1934, Page 6

WORKLESS CHINESE

PLIGHT DISCUSSED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 12. “Some misunderstanding has arisen in connection with Chinese men who are in distress throughout New Zealand,” stated the Unemployment Board to-day. “Some little time ago,” the statement continued, “Mr W. W. Chan, of the Chinese United Christian Mission, in company with the Rev. Y. K. Chan, visited the office of the Unemployment Board before he went to Auckland and discussed the position as to distress among Chinese in various parts of New Zealand. It was explained to Mr Chan that unless the Chinese were registered, the Unemployment Board could not deal with the situation. Mr Chan, who is working among his people, visited Auckland and while there evidently discussed with his countrymen methods by which distress could be relieved among them. The Unemployment Board had no knowledge of these particular proposals and could not contemplate adopting the suggestion as it appeared in the Press that workless Chinese, subsidized by the board, would be enabled to run community gardens, growing vegetables in competition with others in the trade. The misunderstanding is unfortunate, as the board fully appreciates the sincerity of the motives which actuated Mr W. W. Chan and the Rev. Y. K. Chan when they discussed the matter in the board’s office.”