MAYOR RELIEVED OF MUCH ANXIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 144, 19 June 1931, Page 8

MAYOR RELIEVED OF MUCH ANXIETY.

REVIVAL OF THE NO. 5 UNEMPLOYMENT SCHEME.

“ The revival of the No. 5 scheme has relieved me of a load of anxietv,” said the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) to-day. He remarked that as Mayor of the city the suspension of the scheme had caused him very great concern and he had taken some steps to meet the situation that would have been created if the relief works had been closed down.

Mr Sullivan said he had no doubt that now the No. 5 scheme had been revived it would be proceeded with without further interruption because he was quite sure that Parliament would not tolerate a position in which there was no provision whatever to meet the needs of the unemployed. “ I had personally, both as Mayor and as member for Avon, made representations to the Prime Minister on behalf of the unemployed asking for an immediate revival 'of the No. 5 scheme, and I know that similar representations were made from practically all parts of the Dominion strongly urging the Prime Minister not to wait until the sitting of Parliament before taking action in the matter,” the Mayor continued. Further Help Needed.

Mr Sullivan said he had just one anxiety in regard to the matter. That was that there may be some idea in the mind of the public that because the No. 5 scheme had been revived the situation had been wholly met. That would be a most unfortunate impression because it had still to be remembered that single men were given only two days work a week for three weeks in each month, and married men three or four days’ work, according to the number of their dependents. for three weeks a month. It was impossible for them to support themselves and their families with what they earned in this way, and help by way of supplementing their earnings was urgently necessary. This was recognised by Mr George Harper and others who had developed the Pound Scheme. The Relief Organisations. •

“ I want, therefore,” the Mayor added, “ to ask the public to continue to support the relief organisations, including, among others, the Pound Scheme and the Mayor’s Coal and Blanket Fund. Because of the unparalleled demands for coal and blankets the position of that fund remains acute, and. money is badly needed for the purchase of coal and blankets.

“ The necessity for providing for the fourth week during which the relief workers receive no income has been recognised by local authorities in other parts of the Dominion, and similar appeals to the one I am now making have been issued by the Mayors of the other chief centres. Pressure has also been brought to bear on the Government to make additional provision for the fourth week, but so far the Government has not done anything in the matter.”