WANT FREE FOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19845, 20 May 1927, Page 7

WANT FREE FOOD

UNEMPLOYED’S REQUEST CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF RELIEF PAY [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. A deputation of unemployed waited on the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer) this morning and informed him. that the unemployed were prepared to accept the Government rates of pay for relief work provided the men were supplied with “abundantly varied, nutritive and well prepared food,” if possible free, or even at cost price. The deputation stated that as married men had preference of work, the single men were having a very hard time, and some were actually starving. A rsolution was presented asking the Mayor and the Labour members of the benevolent committee of the Hospital Board to exert influence to procure an adequate measure of relief for distressed unemployed. The Mayor said he sympathised with the unemployed and the City Council was doing its best to find work for them. Plans were being prepared and work for a good number of men would soon be offering. As to relief from the Hospital Board, it must be remembered that the Labour members were in a hopeless minority—four to 17. He had no hope that the Government would provide free food for men on relief wages, but he would write to the Minister on the proposal that the Government should undertake the supply of food to the men at cost price.