UNEMPLOYED RELIEF COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5668, 12 September 1896, Page 7

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Citizens' Unemployed Relief Committee was held at the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon: present — the Mayor (in the chair) and Messrs W. H. Cooper, E. Early, C. Hood Williams, C. Burgess, W. I. Ballinger, and J. Burgess (hon secretary). An apology was received for the absence of Mrs Blake. ' • The Mayor reported that since last meeting the sum of £2 16s had been received from the. Durham Street Wesleyan Church. A letter was received from the Bootmakers' Union stating that, owing to the unsatisfactory state of the trade and the shortness of the Union funds, they were unable to make any donation to the Unemployed Relief Fund. A letter was received from the Rev Sidney J. Baker, Minister of Trinity Congregational Church, stating that he had brought the Committee's circular before his deacons, who desired him to state that so many of the individual members having already given, and having the care of their own poor, they felt unable to respond as they would wish. Mr Cooper reported that there was a sum of .£6O in hand, with .£6 on which the Government subsidy could be claimed. There was enough to carry on with the twenty-five men no w engaged for a for tni ght. He explained that he had had to pay 3s lOd for a telegram which had been sent to Mr G. J. Smith, M.H.R., who was absent from Wellington when it was sent. Mr J. Burgess explained that he had sent the telegram " collect," as he had been unable to find any members of the Committee. Mr C. Burgess remarked that the Secretary had been out of pocket for stationery and other expenses. He thought that something was due to him for his services. He moved — " That the sum of three guineas be paid to the Secretary for clerical assistance and money out of pocket." Mr C. Hood Williams seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Cooper suggested that the men now employed should be discharged on Saturday, Sept. 19, and that if, as was expected, a few pounds remained in hand, it should be expended in providing work for one or two of the more necessitous cases. ■ The Mayor said that that was a matter which the sub-conmiittee could very well deal with. J.Mr Cooper reported that, the. Secretary cf the Typographical Society had informed him that the members had had many calls on them lately, and were unable to contribute anything to the fund. | It was decided to hold a meeting at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, for the purpose of closing the account. The meeting then closed.