BOOTS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 16

BOOTS FOR UNEMPLOYED

DISTRIBUTION AT NEW PLYMOUTH

NINETY PAIRS GIVEN YESTERDAY.

Of the 200 pairs of boots received by the Labour Department ,at New Plymouth from the Unemployment Board about 90 were distributed to registered unemployed men yesterday. The officials were kept busy attending to applicants throughout the morning, when 57 pairs were distributed, and in the afternoon, especially after the men had finished their work. As the application forms state the size of boot needed it was possible to fulfil the requirements of the applicants without delay. _ At one time during the morning there were so many men that they had to wait their turn. Some of those who had been served changed their boots on neighbouring doorsteps, others slung them around their necks by the laces, and others brought with them the paper wrapping that was not supplied by the Labour Department. The boots are substantial in appearance and of a type that should give good service. About half the applicants wanted the heavy_ tan Blucher, while the rest preferred the lighter style of black boot. The men seemed to be pleased with the appearance and quality of the boots, and more Chan one of the recipients expressed gratification at the action of the board in making the boots available. As nearly 400 applications for boots have been received by the New Plymouth office of the Labour Department it will not be possible to satisfy all the men' from the present consignment. However, another supply is expected shortly. The fact that a large number of the applicants had not called at the office yesterday is no doubt accounted for by the fact they were working. The distribution will- continue throughout the week, and it is expected that most of the boots will have gone by midday on Saturday. Very few of the men, ff any, work on Saturdays under the No. 5 scheme.