UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 8

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

THE LACK OF MONEY PRIME MINISTER’S VIEW PRIVATE AID IN MEANTIME I Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 16. Replying to various comments on the unemployment relief situation, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said that the money provided by Parliament having been spent, there was now no further provision for finding other funds until Parliament gave anthority. The means of providing further funds had not yet been determined, but the Minister of Labour was going into the question and would make a recommendation to Cabinet in time for a decision to be made, so that the matter could bo brought before the House as early as possible in the coming session. It had been suggested that Parlia ment be called together earlier than June 25 for the purpose of considering ways and means of giving assistance, but Mr Forbes said that was hardly possible. He suggested that during the interval before the meeting of Parliament, assistance could well be carried on temporarily from private ind public body sources. “The general position in regard to finance is very difficult indeed, but we are endeavouring to do everything possible to deal with unemployment, ” said Mr Forbes “1 believe that co-operation right throughout the country between private and public bodies and the Government, will enable much further assistance to be given. A largo number of men are still engaged on Government relief works and extra public works. We are employing many more meu than usual, and are straining every effort to keep them on, but the ability to give assistance is entirely limited by the finance available, and at present the lack of money ■lakes it all very difficult.’’ HOSPITALS’ ASSOCIATION [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 16. Tn a letter to the Premier, the Hospital Boards’ Association again draws attention to the unemployment position, the curtailment of hospital boards’ finmcial requirements and the grave situation in which they will now be placed is the result of the closing down of the No. 5 Scheme. The letter asks to know the Premier’s wishes as to the extent to which hospital boards are to provide for unemployment relief out of their curtailed finances, and to be assured that in ihe event of their legitimate hospital activities being absorbed in unemployment relief the Government will come to their assistance in the ordinary functions of hospitals. In a letter to the Minister of Health, the association points out that at the combined conference of the Counties’ Association, Municipal Association. Farmers’ Union, and Hospital Boards’ Association, the principle was affirmed that outdoor relief occasioned by unemployment should be a charge upon the Consolidated fund and not a burden on the funds of the hospital boards.

AUCKLAND MESSAGES. VERY SERIOUS POSITION. [ Per Prese Association. ) AUCKLAND, June 16. The seriousness with which the city administrators regard the suspension of unemployed relief work is Indicated by telegrams sent to the Prime Minister to-day by the Mayor (Mr Hutchison) ind the hospital chairman (Mr Wallace). The Mayor requests Cabinet to regard the position as equivalent to war, earthquake, or other national calamity, and to use emergency means of providing funds. Mr Wallace informs Cabinet that the Board’s offices are besieged to-day by applicants for relief and describes the position as degrading, demoralising, and pauperising A NELSON RESOLUTION. (Per Press Association.) NELSON, June 16. A meeting of the Unemployment Committee, representative bodies and other organisations passed a resolution: “That having regard to the fact that it will be impossible for local bodies to carry on the employment of men at present employed under No. 5 Scheme if there is any break in the continuity of the scheme, we urge upon the Government the necessity of continuing the scheme without a break, fully believing that Parliament will unhesitatingly endorse the Government’s action in so do ing, and also believe that the same spirit shewn in connection with the Hawke’s Bay disaster will be shown by the people cf New Zealand in this case.’ ’ FREE MEALS WANTED MILLERTON SCHOOL CHILDREN. [ Per Press Association. J NELSON, June 16 Mr H. E. Holland, M.P. for Builei, and Leader of the Labour Party, wireu the Nelson Education Board that so desperate was the position at Millerton that parents had decided to remove their children from school unless free meals were provided. The chairman, Hon. W. H. Mclntyre,’ said there was much more justification for relief than there was a year ago. Mr {Smith; Why? The mines are nut closed and do not supply as mu*ch coai as the Government has ordered. Why is it that the coal is not forthcoming and there is distress among the mintrsf The chairman replied that apparently Millerton coal was not suitable fu* the railways. The Millerton mine had worked only 49 days this year. He knew there was considerable distress to-day. How far the question of relief came within the jurisdiction of the Board he was not in a position to say. On the motion of Mr Harkness, the chairman was deputed to interview the Minister of Education and see what, could be done.