HELD OVER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20277, 11 April 1934, Page 8

HELD OVER.

Contribution to Unemployed Relief. The Lyttelton Harbour Board at its monthly meeting to-day decided to hold over in the meantime the matter of a further contribution toward the provision of work for local unemployed men, pending a lead from other local bodies. . The matter was raised by the following clause from the report of the Harbour Improvement Committee;— “Your committee has carefully considered the request from the Christchurch City Council for a further contribution (£SO) towards the M’Cormaclc’s Bay Causeway Road unemployment relief work, and is unable to recommend a further contribution.” The adoption of the clause was opposed by Mr W. J. Walter, who said that the causeway road had reached a certain stage and it would be a pity if the work were not completed. The work was a necessary one. He moved that the matter should be held over till a lead had been given by other local bodies. “ I would like to see all relief work knocked on the head,” said Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., “but while the present systerruis in force we should give it support. It would be a great shame to see the project dropped at this stage. Moreover, we should endeavour to see that the men are not driven out of the city during the winter months.” Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., said that a contribution could be made, not to any specific job, but toward the relief of unemployed during the winter months. Mr R. T. M’Millan said that there we.-e other bodies more directly interested in the completion of the causeway road, and it was not for the Harbour Board to give a lead in the matter. Mr Walter’s motion was carried. Subsidised Works. On the general matter of subsidised unemployment relief work, the Harbour Improvement Committee recommended:— (a) That, even if the board should decide to undertake any subsidised works for unemployment relief, it would be impracticable to work in conjunction with local bodies in the metropolitan area; and (b) that, to enable the board to consider vhether the construction of a spur out from the Officers’ Point breakwater to reduce the occasional range in the harbour, or the construction of a yacht harbour, are expedient or practicable as subsidised unemployment relief works, the engineer be asked to submit a fresh report as to the material available at or near and eastward of Sticking Point, its cost, and the number of men who could be employed at the quarrying and tipping operations. The recommendations were adopted.