THE UNEMPLOYED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 140, 16 June 1932, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED

PATEA AND WAVERLEY BOOT REPAIRS AND FREE MEAT Unemployed matters have gained in seriousness over the past two or three weeks in the Patea and Waverley dis tricts. At several meetings of local bodies recently this question has been discussed at length, and the best efforts for relief by these local bodies have been made. At the Patea Hospital Board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday Mr. C R. Honeyfield presiding, Mr. W. H. Watkins brought forward the need for free meat for the unemployed. He, as a member of the Waverley Unemployment Committee, had been present when a discussion arose as to whether meat could be distributed to the unemployed- He stated that he had since spoken to Mr. Dickie, the mem ber for the district, who had given him details as to how to obtain the meat, and ways in which it had been done in other centres. Mr. C. E. Johnston stated that the application from the unemployment committees must go through the Hospital Board. Chairman: I hope it’s not left to us to see to its distribution.

Mr. Johnston replied that all the Hospital Board had to do was to receive the application for the meat and forward the order to the suppliers of the meat, who would rail it direct to the unemployment committees.

As a result of further discussion it was decided that the board apply to the Health Department immediately for advice as to where to order meat for the unemployed, and also to point out that meat would be available at the local freezing works at cheaper rates than that procurable from Wanganui.

It was at the meeting of the Patea Unemployment Committee which followed that the Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) presiding, that the matter of boot repairing for the unemployed wa« discussed.

The Mayor stated that he had about £2 in hand which could possibly be increased shortly to £5, with the funds raised by the Women’s Institute at euchre parties.

It was agreed that this sum should be set aside for a boot repair outfit and leather, and that the unemployed would be charged a small sum to keep the supply of leather going. Mr. Green, the postmaster, stated that he had spoken to Mr. Stanley Powdrell on the matter of the cutting of the pine trees on his land opposite the pilot-station. Mr. Powdrell had stated that the unemployed could have the whole plantation on a fifty-fifty basis if they did the cutting and splitting, or for the clearing of a small section of lupin. He expressed a wish that on his return he could meet members of the unemployed committee to discuss things. It was agreed that this would be done, and the representative members of the unemployed committee were asked to put the matter before their fellow unemployed. The secretary reported that at present there were 144 registered unemployed on the books. Of these 21 were working under the 4a scheme for wages, and 11 for no wages. There would have to be work found for 112 next week, this being stand-down week. He had wired to the board for an increase in the committee’s allocation. and had obtained £5 13s, but at the same time there had been five new registrations. There had been 37 registrations since the last monthly meeting. The chairman moved a vote of thankg to Mr. Gibbs, a County Council representative, for his good work on the committee.