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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 178, 2 September 1914, Page 6

Those Of the compulsorily unemployed in Christchunjh who are married me'i or ' men -whose responsibilities make ; it impossible for them to leave and-*eck the work offering i» the country, are entitled to some consideration .at-.this, particular juncture. In this connection fliere has been talk of starting- relief works, but it is too early in ;for ; such an expedient, and relief works, under.any circumstances, should only le resorted to when the possibilities of all other enterprises have been exhausted. Those who aic most deeply 'concerned about the>n«mber ; - of ,men: o»t of : wprl;v because of the .dislocation o£ trade liave; . i ." . " - ■■..-.■' ioverlooked the ;. to- >which '..'&.. <por*ioJi '■&t ■■xhe Jfatriotie Fund-.'. might ; W sat., >. of yshat.;i fuiud *iia| *ver £IO,OOO in hand, with .the prospeot of, having .-f large additions made to tliat it not be possible to allocate a sum of, say, £2OOO to be spent on ithe iSnmmit'Road and other more oi less fteeessary work? The money that has been donated to tlxis particular fund, will not require to be spent for six months. The Government, which is hard up, too, at the present time, may conceivably anticipate being able to borrow, early next year, when the amount spent by the -local committee on such a project as is suggested could be. paid back. This sum of £2QOO, looked upon, ;as a, loan to the general exchequer, would enable . work to be found; for 50 men over a. period ? of four hxonths. (excluding time when labour was/ impossible) at an. average wage of £2 10/-' per week. It is not suggested that there are but 50 unemployed in the city just now, but it is probable that ,the.re are not rrtore than that, number of -eases where conditions are dangerous or ox-' hausting. The discovery of the numbyr most in need of : immediate 1 relief coii Id be inade the function of an TJnemploy- ; ment Committee, w,hich would make all the necessary investigations of the circumstances and bona, fides of applicants. The proposal calls for extreme caution on the part of those supervising it, but is. otherwise, eminently- feasible, and lacks the objectionable element which mere ;relief works possess for the selfreliant working man.