OUT OF WORK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 174, 28 August 1914, Page 8

OUT OF WORK.

MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED. DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOE. % ' A meeting of unemployed was held at the Trades Hall this morning, and subsequently, about 12.30, a gathering was held on the riverbank opposite the Council Chambers. The second meeting appointed a deputation to wait on the Mayor. The deputation' was introduced to the Mayor by Cr Hunter. Mr G. R. Whiting (Mayor of Spreydon) and Mr F. - Ellis (secretary of l the Freezers' Union) were also present. Cr Hunter said that the deputation -wished to ask the Mayor to put in "hand any work that could* be provided. At the meeting in the Trades Hall. 300 men had been in attendance, men who were out of work or who required work. The number out of work must run into hundreds. Mr Herbert said that it was not desirable that strong able-bodied men should be out of work at tWs time. He could vouch for 200 men who were out of work. Potatoes might be grown in their parks, and the money used from the Patriotic Fund.: The Jubilee Home might be renovated. The Town Hall might be started in some way to provide employment. The underground cable might'be laid from Addington to Moorehouse Avenue. The Hospital Board had excavations to make for the outpatients' department on the Hills. Mr Smith said that there was a great number of unemployed able-bodied men. The Mayor: .What about the freezing works. ' Mr Ellis said that they were closing down for five months, and probabi.v no work would be had at them before January. The middle of December was the earliest they could resume.

Mr Smith said thai; among .the unemployed were men who had previously been in constant employment. He suggested that the widening of the streps, at Edgeware Road might be put in hand, also at Springfield Road. The Drainage Board might also help them in some way, and the Tramway Board might also put in hand the shifting of poles from the centres to this sides of the road. Another speaker suggested that the council should assist householders in getting sewer connections put into their

houses. The Mayor: The council would assist, but the trouble is we cau't make them do the work, aud the sewers might not all be ready. , , , , Mr Whiting said that he had been surprised s to see-sueli a large number of men out of employment. They could lay their hands on from 200 to 250 cases. Spreydon, if it got a eoultl put on fifty men. Married men were being kept on by the Spreydon Council to tide them over the present crisis. The City Council might do something in connection with River Road at Becltenham. He hoped that employers and local bodies generally would • do their best to fiiTd work.

The Mayor said that the business very strenuous, and it must cause a great deal of unemployment. He hoped that the figure of -300 was overstated. The Labour Department was prepared to send 50 men to Greymouth. The Drainage B<jard was l?nsv taking levels, with a view of putting work in hand. The McLean Instil uie was putting on men to paint Holly Lea. He would make the deputation's representations known to the Tramway BoardFarmers were wanting labourers to put in the spring crops. The city might put on men to paint the electric supply poles. In regard to widening the roads, it was a matter of finance. The council would not allow a few pounds in interest on overdraft to stand between men and their bread. He though that the Domain Board riright. put on some men to level sports grounds. He would not support .planting all over the park, as that would use up sports grounds, which were necessary. Planting might be done in some of the corners. He would do his best to induce local bodies to put work in hand, but he advised the deputation not to rely entirely on him. "Do your own duty, and push your owu carts as much as you can," was his advice.

Mr Hunter thanked the Mayor for liis courteous reception and his encouraging re"plv. The Mayor's reply was reported to the waiting crowd, and' was variously interpreted. It was decided to meet at 12.30 daily, and to telegraph to Mr Massey letting hiin know the position. Mr P. ('. Webb, M.P., was present at the me.cting.