UNEMPLOYMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

GOVERNMENT'S PLANS NO. 5 SCHEME SUSPENSION part may be carried on [ Per Press Association, j WELLINGTON, June 17. An announcement concerning t e steps to bo taken to assist the uneim ployed between the suspension ot the No? 5 Scheme and the meeting Parliament, was made to-day y Prime Minister m replying Palmerston North de P“ tatl ““' th Gov . Mr J. A. Nash urged that the uo Mr whi carrv the scheme on. g" s b ur°e U Parliament would end M? Man" Mayo- of Palmerston North, suggested that the unemployment levy should apply to tho.e unde •>1 years ’ of age, many of whom were often seen in places of pleasure. Mr Forbes <Aid it was no use pretending that plenty Of money was Available Ho was hopeful that some portion of the scheme would be earned 1 „ +h«r the full burden would not falcon'the loeal'"bodies. Ho did not fear that Parliament would endoise his actions. The only difficulty was that of the national finances gen "He’hoped to be able to make a statement to-morrow. HAWKE S BAY REQUEST HARDSHIP OF EARTHQUAKE (Per Press Association.) NAPIER, June 17. Owing to the suspension of the No. 5 Scheme, the Hawke’s Bay Hlospital Board decided to-day to telegrap the Premier, asking on account of the extra hardship caused by the earthquake, that provisions ot the scheme be allowed to continue m this district for the employment of local residents. Ono member said that the Government seemed to have forgotten the earthquake. URGENT REQUEST AUCKLAND SOCIAL WORKERS (Pet xtb3» Association.) AUCKLAND, June 17. An urgent request to the Government to deal with the unemployment question as soon as possible after the opening of Parliament was made to the Prime Minister to-day by the Auckland Social Workers’ Association, which is composed of 38 of the institutions in the city engaged in the distribution of charitable relief. The message was as follows: “The social workers of Auckland urge upon the Government the necessity of dealing with the unemployment question on the first days of the opening of Parliament. Never in our history have we been faced with so much destitution as at present. Should the depression continue much longer we are convinced that many of our citizens axe faced with starvation. There are hundreds of people who will not report themselves at the Hospital Board and are at this time receiving help from the various social workers. We, as social workers, are absolutely helpless to cope with the distress unless the Government comes to our help. The position has been made desperate owing to the withdrawal of relief work under No. 5 {Scheme. W T c will co-operate with the Government in any scheme or schemes that will bring relief to the destitute families of our city. We pray that this message will be considered as urgent. ’ ’

The farmers of Auckland province, through the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, to-day offered to send quantities of food into the city free of charge for distribution to distress ed families. The gifts will include vegetables, meat, eggs and farm produce of all descriptions. The Railway Department is being urged to permit the carriage of such goods free of charge, as was done during the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, provided the destination of the goods is a bona fide agency for the distribution of charity. PLIGHT OF RETURNED MEN. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 17. "The men who did not go to the war and took the jobs of those who did are still in those jobs and they are the only men who seem to be prospering today,’’ said Colonel Dawson when addressing the Hon. W. A. Veitch, as a member of the returned soldiers’ deputation in reference to acute distress amongst men who fought in the war. General Richardson, head of the deoutation, declared that returned men were out of work and would have been entirely submerged but for the No. 5 scheme. There were many who could not benefit by the scheme owing to age or war disabilities, and their cases required special attention. He urged the Minister to use his influence to have land made available for them. Colonel Dawson recalled the promises made to soldiers on enlistment, and suggested that the Narrow Neck camp be used to accommodate 200 single men. the Government to provide rations and several non-commissioned officers who could easily be spared. The returned men were slipping faster than others into despondency, and felt that nobody cared for them. Mr Veitch, replying, said that exsoldiers had as much claim on the people to-day as when they enlisted.