NEARLY £7000 SPENT ON RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 9

NEARLY £7OOO SPENT ON RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYED.

CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE HOLDS FINAL MEETING. The 6nal meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee was held . to-day. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. X. Archer) in the chair, and Messrs E. 11. Andrews, A. R. Galbraith, 11. Worrall, F. C. Ellis, C. 11. lle*vlett, E. G. Queree. R. B. Owen, W. E. Leadley and F.*A. Grant (seerdtary). Mr A. E. Waite, chief clerk of the Labour Department. Wellington, and Mr W. ,T. Wakelin, officer in charge of the Christchurch office of the Department,, were also present. Mr Waite said that in Wellington the Department was concerned with what was going to be done next year. The idea was to try and balance, the flow of immigrants by bringing them into the country at the times when they were most required. The details of the Scheme had not been worked out but the object was to bring in more men of the trades that wanted men and fewer men of trades that did not want Mr Worrall drew Mr Waite’s attention to difficulties that had come under his notice as a result of persons nominating immigrants and not accepting responsibility for them on their arrival. The executive reported that the following amount of moqey was raised for the relief of unemployment:—

Balance in hand .... £177 16 1 It was decided that a sum not exceeding £loo,' from the credit balance of £177 16s Id, be expended in providing relief employment in necessitous cases, a sub-committee being set up to select the men. Mr Oucrec reported that the total number of unemployed on the Labour Department’s register was 178, 120 of whom were married men with 340 dependants as follow:—One with nine dependants, one with eight, three with seven, two with six, twelve with five, fourteen with four, thirty-one with three, twenty-five with two, thirty-one with one. There were fifty-eight single men six dependants. As the Citizens’ Committee had now ceased operations a good many men who were working on relief works had re-regis-tered, also on inquiries being made a number of shearers were in town awaiting engagements, and had registered with the hope of receiving a few/davs’ work. - As showing how the position had improved since July 31. when the Citizens’ Committee had 200 men engaged on relief works, Air Queree stated that on July 31 the number on the register was 268 and the number on relief works was 200, a total of 468. In November 4 the number on the register was 178 and there were no men on relief works. Although unemployment still existed, the number of men requiring assistance had shown a decrease of 290. Since May 1 the number of men assisted with employment through the Government Labour Bureau was as follows: Public Works. 356; other Government works, S 3; local bodies. 49; private employers, 516; Citizens’ Committee, 688; total, 1692.

The committee decided to express its thanks to the following: The public and local bodies, for their most generous response to the committee's appeal Mr J. Anderson, city treasurer, and Mr 11. M. Garrick, and other members of the City Council staff, for their services in receiving and keeping account of all money collected* and payment of all wages and accounts, which incurred a tremendous amount of work. To Mr A. R. Galbraith, city engineer, and Mr James Young, curator of reserves. and assistants, for their valuable help in arranging works and supervising the labour during the whole of the period of unemployment relief'. To the Government for providing public relief works and in placing the resources of the Government Labour Bureau at the services of the committee, and to Mr E. G. Queree. of that Department, who.se untiring efforts in the difficult task allotted to him were much appreciated- To the various local bodies and their staffs in undertaking and supervising relief works in their various districts, which was of material assistance to the committee. To Mrs 11. F. Herbert and assistants, for the management and control of the relief depot. To the bands and all those who assisted with concerts, competitions and other functions in connection with the raising of funds. To the newspapers.. for the publicity given to the committee’s work. The successful raising of such a large sum of money is' a useful illustration of the value of all the branches of the community working together with one common aim. The following recommendations of the executive were adopted: “That the Government, local bodies, business firms and others employing unskilled labour should confine their activities in the summer months to necessary work with the regular staffs only, and prosecute with vigour during the winter months works which would absorb casual labour/’ “That the Mayor be asked to convene a conference of representative; of local bodies and all others inter 63ted in and around Christchurch with a view to the discussion of a policy to be pursued in the future in regard to the unemployment problem.” Mr Ellis referred to the fact that a large number of men were engaged on seasonal occupations and spoke on the need for tackling the problem of unemployment in a comprehensive manner. Mr Leadley suggested that consideration should be given to a scheme of afforestation, particulars of which he was prepared to place before the conference when it was called next year to discuss the matter.

Public subscriptions Local Bodv subsidies— £4446 2 4 Christchurch City Council Borough Coun1999 19 3 cil ; . . . 100 0 0 Lyttelton Harbour Board Kiccarton Borough Coun75 0 0 oil Ileathcote Coun tv Coun75 0 0 cil New Brighton Borough 100 0 0 Council North Canterburv ITosGo 0 0 pital Board 100 0 0 Total amount subscribed £6,961 Wages, etc., paid for unern1 7 plovment relief 67S3 5 6