UNEMPLOYED ASK MAYOR FOR WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 4

UNEMPLOYED ASK MAYOR FOR WORK.

NEARLY 400 MEN ARE NOW REGISTERED

“All members of the City Council, whether belonging to the Labour Party or otherwise, are sympathetic on this question. We will do what we can, but we have our limitations and cannot go outside them.” The above remarks were addressed by the Mayor, the Rev J. K. Archer, to a deputation of unemployed •which waited on him this morning. Cr G. R. Hunter, chairman of the Works Committee, and the City Engineer (Mr A. R. Galbraith) were also in attendance.

The deputation consisted of about a dozen men, but before it was received by the Mayor there were between thirty and forty men present. As they had assembled at about half-past eleven o’clock, and the Mayor could not receive them until after 12.30, many of them went away. Mr J. Pierson, who was spokesman for the deputation, said that a meeting of the unemployed was held this morning, and 287 men were present. The unemployed thorottghly appreci ated all that the council and the citizens had done to- relieve the position in the past, but wished to draw the Mavor’s attention to the seriousness of the situation at the present time. The Mayor promised to send a telegram to the Prime Minister, pointing out the extent of unemployment in Christchurch and asking if it is possible for the Government to assist in coping with the problem. He stated that he thoroughly appreciated the manner in which the deputation had approached him. “We don’t want to chase the City Council because it is a Labour Council,” said Mr Pierson. “We realise that the responsibility rests on the shoulders of those who have carried out the immigration scheme.” The Mayor said that the council would think out every* possible plan and what it could do it would try to do. _ , , Mr Pierson: I wish to thank you on behalf of the unemployed for your efforts on our behalf. Subsequently the Mayor was mtormed by the Government Labour Bureau that the total number of unemployed registered up to last evening was 399, and that, with their dependents, they represented a total of 660. A good proportion of the men registered were single. ___