ASHBURTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 23 July 1934, Page 14

ASHBURTON NEWS.

Protest Against Allocation of Relief. SYSTEM INADEQUATE. (Special to the ** Star.”) ASHBURTON, July 22. “That this representative public meeting of Ashburton citizens emphatically protests against the present, allocation granted to local relief workers, and asks that the scale in vogue in main centres be instituted in Ashburton forthwith; the stand-down week to be abolished.” This resolution was carried unanimously at a public meeting, attended by about 200 peoyde. in St Andrew’s Hall, Ashburton, on Saturday night. The meeting was convened by the Ashburton Relief Workers’ Union, and the Mayor (Mr W. 11. Woods) presided. There were also on the platform the Rev Clyde Carr, Labour member for Timaru, who was the principal speaker; the Rev Dean O’Donnell; Mr R. Kerr, a former chairman of the local Unemployment Committee; and Mr H. A. Knight, president of the relief workers’ organisation.

The Mayor, who is chairman of the local Relief Committee, stated that strong lepresentations had been made to the Unemployment Board in regard to the necessity for an increase in the allocations, but the requests had fallen on deaf ears. The matter was now receiving the attention of the citizens of the town, who desired to place the relief workers on the same footing as in other centres.

Mr 11. A. Knight expressed pleasure at the large attendance, which showed that the relief workers had the sympathy of the public. He stated that in Christchurch the average weekly earnings for the four-weekly period was £1 7s 6d in the case of B class men, and £1 16s 3d for C class, while in Ashburton the figures were ISs 3d and £1 Ss 9d respectively. He stated that the position in the homes of some of the relief workers was terrible, theie being very little in the way of furniture or linen.

Mr Kerr said he had been chairman of the local Relief Committee for about two years. They had fought tooth and nail for increases in allocations. Sometimes they were successful, but on most occasions they were not. Relief workers had to depend on the generosity of the citizens, who were not only taxed, but provided food and clothes for those in distress. It was just as hard to get work in Ashburton as other centres, and the cost of living was just as high as in Christchurch. A voice: And a good deal higher. Mr Kerr moved the motion referred to. It was decided to send copies of the resolution to the members for the MidCanterbury and South Canterbury electorates to bring before the Minister of Employment at the earliest possible date. Votes of thanks were accorded the speakers. Relief of Distress. The fund for the relief of distress in the Ashburton County as a result of the direct appeal now amounts to £627 17s Cd. A Presentation. Miss A. Bryden, of Alford Forest Road is shortly leaving to reside in the North Island. At an informal function attended by members of the Ashburton Croquet Club this afternoon, the president (Mrs A. Lane) presented Miss Bryden with a week-end case on behalf of members. Women’s Division. The Ashburton branch of the Women's Division of the T armers Union met on Friday. The president, Xlrs E. M. Begg, presided. Mrs Richard, delegate to the Dominion Conference, presented a full report of matters of local interest to members. It was agreed to hold a birthday party, the date to be fixed at a later meeting. Competitions resulted as follows; Plate of fruit, Mrs S. Crosscn 1, Mrs E. Mi Begg 2, Mrs W. Pinney 3; flowers, Mrs W. Pinney 1, Mrs Begg 2, Miss M’Milla n 3; scones, Mrs W. Pinney 1, Miss M’Millan‘2; vegetables, Mrs W. Pinney 1, Mrs Begg 2.