WORK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 9

WORK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

WELLINGTON MEN’S NEED EXPECTATIONS NOT REALISED. REQUEST FQR GOVERNMENT HELP By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The plight of the unemployed was brought under the notice of the Government this afternoon by a deputation representing the Wellington Unemployed Committee. The speakers laid stress on the need for finding employment for those out of work before the Christmas season and pointed to the danger that existed that the appointment of the Unemployment Board would lead to a slackening of effort on the part of local bodies and private employers. •• The deputation was received by the acting-Attorney-General (Sir Apirana Ngata), the Minister of Public Works (Hon. W. B. Taverner), and the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. A. J. Murdoch). The deputation comprised abou.6 250 persons, and was introduced by Mr. R. Semple, M.P., who said they realised the tremendous responsibility of the Government in the matter of unemployment, and while they did not wish to embarrass the Government they urged that still more action should be taken. It was estimated that there were from 1500 to 2000 unemployed in Wellington, though the registrations might not show so many. The principal spokesman' for the deputation was the president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council (Mr. W. Bromley), who is t*o be a member of the Unemployment Board, He said that, contrary to the expectations of everybody that with the approach of summer there would be plenty of work, unemployment was increasing instead of decreasing. There were two main reasons for 'that’: One was the termination of relief works in city and country, and the other was the sublime faith that was being engendered in the Unemployment Act and the work that the board would undertake. If the board were to be a success it would need have the co-operation of the Government, local bodies, every employer of labour, and every citizen. Every worker who was suffering from the tragedy of unemployment had the right to expect that co-operation. Not only had the worker that- right but he had the right to expect the co-operation of every trade union official who by the pennies of the workers was being kept from the dangers of unemployment. Any trade union official who refused to lend that assistance would surely bring the condemnation of the workers upon himself, Mr. Bromley suggested that in view of the approach of Christmas a determined effort should be made to put the maximum number of men into work. If there were a generous response to such appeals the lot of many workers and their dependents would be made much lighter during the Christmas season. UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD FUND. The secretary of the Trades and Labour Council (Mr. F. D. Corwell) eaid that the Government had started the Unemployment Board’s . fund with £lOO,OOO, arid he considered this should be used immediately for relief purposes. Single men were in urgent need of help.

Mr. T. Brindle, a member of the national executive of the New Zealand Rabour Party, said there was no ’ need for people to be turned out of their shomes, as was happening. , A member of the deputation gave illustrations of ’ distress existing at the present time. This morning 604 men had attended at the labour bureau and only one had got a job. Sir’Apirana Ngata said the Government recognised that the situation was most difficult: The question of finance was also difficult. The Government was doing its best within the limits to deal with the problem. He read a letter from the Mayor, in which Mr. Troup stated that the Wellington City Council had at least £27,000 in hand, which would be available for expenditure shortly. He suggested that a small committee be set up immediately to confer with the Cabinet on Monday in order to see whether something could be done in the next few days. The committee could include local members of Parliament and representatives of local bodies.

It had been suggested that the £lOO,000 voted to the Unemployment Board should be used by the Government for immediate relief, but there might be legal obstacles to such a course. The Government would stretch the finances to the limit to keep men working. In a few weeks it was hoped to announce the taking over of lands for development. It was hoped to start that before Christmas, but they would not be able to engage many of the unemployed for some little time. It was hoped to 'divert a certain number of men to land development as a permanent solution of unemployment. Sir Apirana referred to the need f° r the people’s sacrificing some of the luxuries of life in order to enable the present position to be met. The Minister of Public Works said he was fully alive to .the seriousness of the position. At the present time 17,000 men were being employed by the Public Works Department and were costing on all charges, including interest on loans, £1 per day per man. The Government was making a big effort to cope with the problem. The fact that the Unemployment Board had been established would 'in no way affect the activity of the Government as far as available finances would permit. He hoped the next few months would see a great improvement in the position. Mr. Taverner added that he had that day arranged for the employment of 200 men at Stratford and Nelson. It would be a long time before work could be provided on Wellington’s new railway station.