THE POSITION DISCUSSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12257, 3 July 1909, Page 5

THE POSITION DISCUSSED

WELLINGTON, July 2. About 200 persons attended a meeting to-night to discuss the unemployed question with the view to formulating some scheme^to relieve the existing distress. The Mayor, Dr. Newman, who convened tho meeting, presided. He said that the Council had done what it could to provide work, but more was needed. There were inany'genuine cases of hardship. Men with wives and families were face to face with distitntion. He appealed to the citizens to help to raise a fund to provide work. Money should be handed to the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, because there would be a Government subsidy of 2-ls in the £1. No money would bo distributed unless men earned it. He suggested that any money subscribed should be used for tree planting. Mr C. Kirk, chairman of the Charitable Aid Board, said the times were very hard indeed. Men could do tree planting who could not do heavier work. Ho was in sympathy with the proposal, and he moved —" That there is urgent need to raise funds to provide work for the unemployed; that all money subscribed be paid to the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, and expended with the subsidy thereon by that Board in providing employment upon some useful uublic works." Mr J. P. Luke' M.P., seconded. Tho Rev Dr Gib'b supported' tho resolution.

Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.. suggested they should obtain details of the number of unemployed. If tho public know the real position they could subscribe bountifully.

At a subsequent committee meeting it wkr stated that 1100 names of unemployed had been sent in.