OUT OF WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16515, 27 August 1921, Page 8

OUT OF WORK.

POSITION STILL SERIOUS. MEETINC OF COMMITTEE The Unemp-loj'ment Committee met yesterday, Mr W. Goss presiding. A considerable number of men were reported ’to be out of employment. The chairman welcomed tho Row I*. \ Taylor, representative of the Council of Christian Congregations. CHRISTCHURCH-SUMNEE ROAD. The chairman said that, pursuant to statements to the eifect that a sum had been placed on the Estimates for the reconstruction of the OhristehurchSumner Road, he had interview ed tne Minister of Public "Works. The upshot rvas a letter from the Minister stating that lie found no vote on the Estimates for the road. Tho Minister had writ“l have very carefully considered your arguments which you have l>ut forward, and I have come to tho conclusion that, so far as the Government is concerned, it is unable at tho present moment to assist you in maintaining and reconstructing the road from Christchurch to Sumner. To me it appears to be purely a question lor the authorities concerned. The nature of the work yon suggest, in my' opinion, is not suitable for unemployed. T’or the foregoing reasons I regret that I am unable to entertain your proposal. With particular reference to the matter of finding work for the unemployed, I would suggest that you devote any money you aro successful in raising on a pound for pound basis to tho road leading from Sumner to Lyttelton. 1 would be prepared to consider finding pound for pound up to £SOO for this road. This would bo principally construction work, and would be very much more suitable from tho point of "view of unemployed. . It- was decided to send deputations to the local bodies concerned. UNEMPLOYMENT REPORTS. The number of unemployed on the books of the Christchurch bureau of the Government Labour Department was stated by Mr T. C. fielder to be sixty, comprising fifty-two men fit ior heavy work. Only eleven men had been"placed in billets during this week, he said. , , The number of unemployed on the hooks of the local Repatriation Board was stated to be fifty-five, including twenty-pine labourers. Seventeen or the men were married. Thirteen required light work, which it was found very difficult- to obtain. Mr W r . J. Jenkm: It was said that the trouble would disappear after the races. The reverse is the case, apparently. , . , Mr P. R- Clitnie: I think tho races have brought unemployment into the city. , Mr Fielder said that efforts had been made to get employment on public works. The chairman said that the Govern, ment had done a good deal to ease the position. EMPLOYMENT PROPOSALS. Mr W. E. Leadley said it was the Government’s duty to create employment. He considered that work in connection with the relaying of the railway shunting yard at Middieton should be started. Mr Clirnie said that a contract for the construction of the electric power transmission line to Timaru had been let to Messrs P. R. Bailey and Co., and bo suggested that the firm snould be written to asking that Canterbury men should bo employed on tho job, which would be a good long one. The suggestion was adopted. Mr Leadley reported that the Hospital Board intended building a children’s consumptive sanatorium on the Cashmere Hills. Tie suggested that levelling and quarrying operations might be begun, which would absorb a number of the unemployed. It was decided to approach the Public Health Committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board with reference to the matter. The chairman said that the Morton Estate had agreed to spend £2OO on work on the track between Taylor’s Mistake and Sumner, and he thought the action highly commendable. If possible, subsidies should be obtainedIt was decided to inquire into the position, and to forward a letter of thanks to the trustees of the estate. A grant of £lO from the Labour Department towards tho committee’s work was announced. The proposal to carry out afforestation work at New Brighton was mentioned, and it was decided to inquire as to what could be done in raising the money necessary to gain tT‘ v Government’s promised subsidy.