THE UNEMPLOYED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5283, 13 June 1895, Page 4

THE UNEMPLOYED.

At the invitation of the Mayor of Chiistehuroh several repreeentativea of local bodies assembled at the City Council Chambers last evening to take into consideration the best means of dealing with the unemployed question. There were present the Mayor of Christchiirch (in the chair), the Mayors of Sydenham, St Albans, Linwood and Woolston, Mr J. H. M'Haffie (Chairman of the Heathcote Road Board) and Mr J. Burgess (aeoretary to the Unemployed Committee).

The Mayor said that he had called the meeting to propound a scheme for finding work for the unemployed. Mr Stead had come forward with an offer to give 20 guineas as a nucleus for a fund, and that gentleman had already collected over £100, He (the Mayor) had then decided to call the representatives of local bodies ! together to see what assistance would be forthcoming from them, as it was evident that the whole responsibility foi providing for the unemployed could not be thrown on the Government. Last year £400 . had been subscribed in the city for the benefit of the aged men who were out of work in Chriacchnroh. He was satisfied that some united action should be taken among the local bodies. He intended to move at nest meeting of his- Council that the city should vote £200 towards this objeefc, and he wished to know if the local bodies would be prepared 'to throw into a general fund any money , they: might vote, ao that all requiring work might benefit from the fund, irrespective o£ age or place of residence. He .was- satisfied that if the combined local bodieß< would vote £500,, the citizens would subscribe a like amount, whieh, with the subsidy promised by the Government,* would allow of over £2000 being spent. The money would have to g» through the Charitable Aid Board's hands in the same manner as last year. He waß calling a meeting for Friday, in order to arrange for a, canvass of the oily. - On inquiry iron* , Dunedin he found, that the, men there were being paid 4s Gi per day, irrespective of age or fitness for work. Mr Stead's idea, of which he approved, waa to pay the men M per week, and to give citizens subscribing to the fund tickets which would entitle them to have so much work { done. . He noticed fin one of the evening papers a suggestion that working men in employment should contribute something to th^undi It Was hie. intention to send subscription lists to all the factories, and he was satisfied that a substantial Sum 1 wottfd ;bft >6tain«d-m *h|t wfryV ; ' The. Mayor of {tin wood said that he was not prepared to pledge his Cbt&euin any way. He was pleased ; with, th* scheme propounded,, and thought good Would come of it. ¥p to the present twenty names of unemployed had been registered in his district . with; about forty children dependent on (hem. He- quite saw that the locaV bodies would have to follow suit now that the Mayor of Chriatchnicfc had taken the lead. He would call a speoial meeting of his Council to dismiss the matter on -Monday.'' 1 .■■-'■• : <- ■--'• '■•'■ •■-.■ .;;;,„.

Mr d. H. M^Haffie (Heathcote Boad Board) agreed with the necessity of the local bodies doidg their share in the matter. He would call a meeting of his Board as ebon as possible, and would use his inftuence in the matter. He approved of the idea of tke whole of the monej going into a geuejal fon]d,, .,and h thought the thft^kp; of itHtf -licw^tf I^i|» ,a^4]Kiih'e;f-ua-emplo^d'were due- t&lHeMayQrf or taking 'thiß^aitMrtiye. - ■ ; :<y . V *S.'^V : .' ; -"'- . -V,' v St^^aw aiid that he would lay the matter before his Councillors on Monday. He was afraid that bis Council was not in a position to vote very muoh, as its rates had been considerably reduced by the Aflflaiwmerit Courts '

The Maypr of Wooleton received thu scheme favourably, and raid that he would lay it before his Council at the earliest opportunity. Ha thought he could promise ite hearty co-operatioa. The Mayor of Sydenham said that he would lay the matter before hia Council on Monday evening. He was personally in favour of Boheme, and would do all in his power to further it.. He was prepared to recommend that the • money should go into a general fund. . The Chairman wished it to be distinctly understood that the work would not be charitable aid work. The intention was to allow respectable tradesmen to earn their own living. Another thing was that the districts contributing would have the money spent pro raia in their own districts. ;•■• .■" :..' ■• .-..' ■ ■• ' '■' ■■ „.: Mr M'Haffie pointed out several benefits that: would accrue from- there being one general' fund, which would prevent any friction, and would also tend to lessen the chances of imposition by A man getting work in one district and then going to another. ,

A discussion took place as to what wageß. should be paid to those employed under the proposed plan, the general opinion being that married men should receive £1 5a per week and single men £1, so aa to distribute the money as widely as possible.

The Mayor said he would invite all those in Ohristchurch who were out of work to register their names at the City Counoil * Chambers, and the Mayors of Sydenham, St Albans, Linwood and WoolstoA said they would invite applicants in their . boroughs to register at the local offices.'' .-.. ' '..-. '"• "■ ■'■ ... ■.

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. .