CHRISTCHURCH. UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1928, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH. UNEMPLOYED

MEN MAI >ll TO WORK FOR RELIEF. By Tek-graph.—Press Association. Christchurch, May 16. A meeting of sixty unemployed men to-day carried a resolution protesting against “the illegal and unconstitutional practice of the North Canterbury Hospital Board” in compelling able-bodied applicant* for relief to do certain work in return. The men declared that the unemployed would refuse to do any such task. The Mayor of Christchurch, the Rev. J. K. Archer, who was present, said the decision that able-bodied men should give work in return for relief was the decision of the department in Wellington. It was supported by the hospital board. He advised the unemployed to obtain such help as they could out of the system until they had the ability to change it. Mr. H. T. Armstrong, M.P., _ advised the men to stop quibbling, saying: “If I were a working man, much as I would detest its system or relief, if I had four or five children I would sooner work for the hospital board any day than let mv family starve.” FREE DINNER FOR UNEMPLOYED. Christchurch, May 16. Christchurch’s Labour Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer, had proposed that as a part of the jubilee celebration a free dinner should be given to the unemployed. To-day the unemployed waited upon Mr. Archer declaring that such a dinner would only be a parade of their humiliation and that they would fee! they were patronised. They would prefer. they said, to have the equivalent of the dinner in cash or work. Mr. Archer thereupon announced that he would not proceed with the scheme.