WORK FOR 100 MEN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20247, 16 July 1937, Page 8

WORK FOR 100 MEN

FOR FOUR MONTHS’ TERM. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. STANDARD RATES OF PAY. Full-time employment for about 100 men at standard rates of pay for four months is to be found by the publlo bodies of Hamilton, Cambridge, Huntly, Ngaruawahla, Otorohanga and Te Awamutu, as a result of the conferenoe of representatives of these bodies, called by the Hon. P. C. Webb, Acting-Minister of Labour, which met under the chairmanship of the Minister In the borough, chambers, Hamilton, last evening. The work will be found as a result of the offer made by the Government through the Minister of a wages subsidy of up to £4 a week for each of the men for the period stated. The source of the subsidy is the surplus of £300,000 which at present stands to the credit of the Employment Promotion Fund, stated the Minister, and it was intended to spend this money by providing wages subsidies for 7000 men throughout the Dominion. The number of men to be so assisted in each district has been arrived at through taking into account the number of registered unemployed and making proportionate allocations. The allocations for Hamilton and neighbouring centres are as follows: Hamilton, 51 fnen; Cambridge, 10; Huntly, 10_; Otorohanga, 10; Waihi, 10; Te Aroha, 9; Morrinsville, 8; Te Awamutu, 7; Ngaruawahia, 7; Matamata, 2. Mr Webb, who was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, was accompanied by Mr C. A. Barrell, M.P-, Mr R. Coulter, M.P., and Mr W. Bromley, of the Labour Department. Promotion of Useful Work. “The object of this meeting,” said Mr Webb, “is to discuss the question of how best to utilise the services of the men at present out of work. It is apparent that there is any amount of real work waiting to be done, the doing of which would leave your towns and counties immeasurably the richer.” The problem was, however, not merely the promotion of useful work, but the repairing of the moiale of those who were wanting work but could not get it lo do. “There is at present a surplus of £300,000 in the Employment Promotion Fund,” he went on, "and 1 do not want to see a surplus there while there is one man out of employment. The question that faced the Department, however, was how best to employ the money, and it was decided that it could best be used with the co-operation of local bodies.”

Throughout the country there were thousands of men who were ready and anxious to work, if work were made available to them. "To these we owe a responsibility,” said the Minister, “for if men are perpetually out of work it breaks their spirit and morale. The fart that so many of our unemployed passed through the hell of tlie depression and still want work is a tribute to their manhood and an inspiration to us to carrv on and do the best we can for them.”

If local bodies were prepared to take their quota of men, the Government was prepared to pay up to £4 a week to each man for th.e four-months period. The employment of 7000 men throughout the Dominion for the period stated would naturally mean that local bodies would spend a lot more on materials, transport., and in other directions. Nevertheless, the Government’s offer would mean the accomplishment of much worth-while work at a very economical cost. No Political Move. “I hope an offer of this kind will never have to be made again in this country,” said Mr Webb. “There is nothing political about Ibis appeal. I do not care what your politics are. for with co-operation there is nothing we cannot do. With tlie concentrated brain-power of the public-spirited nieji of this country, we should be able to find work for all, iiouses for all, comfort and happiness for all.” There were innumerable ways in which worth-while work could be done, in the breaking-in, draining and cultivation of new lands, in the conservation and extension of forests, and in other developmental activities. towns throughout I lie Dominion which have been established for half a century,” said Mr Webb, “yet they have no proper sewerage system. Surely an opportunity for useful work lies there.” At the conclusion of the Minister’s address, the work of making district allocations and oilier arrangements was carried out by Mr Bromley in consultation with the delegates attending for the various public bodies.

MORRINSVILLE DEPUTATIONS. SUM OF £SOOO PROMISED. PR'O MO TING EMPLO YMENT. (Special to Tunes.) MORRINSVILLE, Friday. The Hon. P. C. Webb. acting-Min-ister of Labour and Public Works, met representatives of most of the local bodies in Hie Thames Valley at the Morrinsville Borough Council Chambers this morning. The Minister was welcomed by .Mr w. t. Osborne, the Mayor of Morrinsville. About 40 local body representatives were present inciuding delegates from Coromandel

The Minister urged the local bodies to find work for ail men in the district find £SOOO lo subsidise such work in Hie district from Thames to Matamata He understood that about 140 men would be available.

Ihe lengthy conference continued all morning, the Minister conferring’ "ith the delegates with reference lo Hie work and all the local bodies expressed their desire lo participate. The Minister left early in the afternoon for Cambridge.