ASKS FOR HELP IN RELIEVING UNEMPLOYED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18641, 19 December 1928, Page 1

ASKS FOR HELP IN RELIEVING UNEMPLOYED.

MAYOR OF AUCKLAND COMMUNICATES WITH PRIME MINISTER. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 19. “This is not much good in helping us to find work to assist the unemployed before the Christmas holidays,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Baildon) yesterday in commenting on a reply received from Sir Joseph Ward to a telegram forwarded the previous day, asking for official information concerning the payment of £2OOO to the city for unemployment relief. The Mayor suggested that it should be made in the form of a grant, rather than a subsidy. The reply stated that assistance for unemployed will take the form of a subsidy on approved works on the lines of past subsidies, but will be based on the Government standard rate of wages, 14s a day. Reference in the Prime Minister’s telegram to the payment of the standard rate cf wages would cause difficulty, said Mr Baildon. The City Council now had 150 men on relief work at 9s and 12s a day, the majority receiving 12s because of being married or having dependents. “I understood Sir Joseph Ward to say that standard rates were to be paid only in the country, and this is going to create a lot of trouble,” said Mr Baildon. He said that if £2OOO was made available as a grant the city could do what it liked with the money, and there would be no difficulty in starting new works immediately. “It seems unfair that Christchurch should be given a grant and that the offer to other cities should be made contingent on finding a similar amount,” he said. “We have always had a subsidy for relief works and there is nothing new in this latest offer.” Later in the day the Mayor sent another telegram as follows:—“I am afraid conditions will prevent the full] benefit being derived immediately. Moreover, 14s a day will seriously disturb matters as we have at present 150 men working at 12s and 9s a day. Un«derstood the standard rate was to apply to country workers only. Still consider grant preferable for immediate help.” A number of unemployed waited on the Mayor yesterday asking for information as to work that might be made available through the Government’s offer, but as Sir Joseph Ward’s reply had not been received the Mayor was unable to assist them. The deputation will call again to-day.

CONDITIONS DESPERATE, LABOUR MEMBERS SAY. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 19. Messrs Parry, Savage, and Mason, Auckland’s three Labour members, this morning wired Sir Joseph Ward stating that although ’they were pleased £2OOO had been authorised for unemployment relief they regretted that about 800 men and families were disappointed at the delay over the conditions. The message concluded with the question: “Can’t you do something to facilitate the matter, to relieve the desperate conditions existing here?”

BOARD RECOMPENSED BY GRANT OF £IO,OOO. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 19. Before the Reform Government resigned it authorised a grant of £IO,OOO to the Auckland Hospital Board to recompense that body for the money it has spent on the extraordinary relief of unemployment. The late Cabinet’s decision was conveyed to the board vesterdav by the Director-General of Health. ' The chairman (Mr W. Wallace) said: “ The grant was made in accordance with a promise given by Mr Coates. It reflects credit on Mr Coates that he has played the man and kept his promise to the board-’’