UNEMPLOYMENT

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. APPEAL FUND TO BE, OPENED. The North Canterbury Unemployment Committee met yesterday. Present: Messrs \V. Coss (chairman), A. P. Drayton, W. E. Leadley, H. H. Holland, S. F. Marshall, C. Benjamin, T. G. Fielder, and the Rev. F. N. Taylor. Mr H. Worrall was present unofficiallv from the Trades and Labour Council!

The chairman explained the aims of the committee. He stated that the definite line to be taken up by the committee had yet to be decided. In answer to Mr Worrall's question, the chairman stated that last year the committee wrote to various bodies, asking . them to send representatives to the committee-. The Repatriation Board, the Returned Soldiers' Association, and other organisations duly sent representatives. Kach member of the committee was responsible to sr>me organisation. It w;;s felt that the committee could do better work as a committee it* -it were not under the Jegis of any public body. The committee would like to see the Trades and Labour Council represented this year.

Mr Worrall said that it would be in the interests of the committee if the Trades and Labour Council were invited to elect two representatives to the committee. The Counc.l was vitally interested in the welfare of the men, and it was desired to assist in the way of finding them employment. Mr Leadley said that while it had beon stated that too many representatives from the various bodies might make the committee unwieldy, personally he would not mind the Council's sending two representatives if they would prove to be workers. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Drayton, that the Trades and Labour Council should be invited to appoint two representatives. A report was received from the Town Clerk concerning the conference of local hodies held last week to go into the question of finding, employment for workless men.

Mr Fielder" said that ijie number of men out of work, according to the lists of the Labour Department, was 116 fit and six unfit Of these 73 were married and 49 single. Among the unemployed were 72 married and 46 single labourers. These figures, he said, were a considerable increase on those of last week. No doubt many more men were now realising the necessity for register ing than was the case before. Mr Marshall said that the list of the Repatriation Department showed that there were 76 New Zealand returned soldiers out of work, and 19 ex-Imperial men. Of these 60 were labourers, 38 being married. Mr Worrall said that he understood that there were more unemployed labourers about during the last two weeks than before. Mr Leadley emphasised the necessity of all unemployed men registering either with the Labour Department or the Repatriation Department. He had noticed lately that certain public men were inclined to over-state the position regarding unemployment. The lists kept by Departments did not agree with the statement that there were 1000 men out of work in Christchurch. The chairman said that'that was a sug<res*ion that should be carried out. The committee approved of a circular setting out the aims of the committee which was being sent out to local bodie° The chairman said thnt •it woulct be necessary to follow up the circular with deputations. . The chairman submitted a i>lan prepared by the Lands Department showing areas of land in and about Christchurch which would be suitable for treeplanting. The plan would be shown to Mr Massey when a; deputation met him again on the subject of unemployment. The chairman said that the Government had promised the New Brighton Borough Council £SOO as a £ for £ subsidy, provided the Council could allocate a similar sum for the purpose of tree-planting. Unfortunately, the Council was unable to put up such a sum, £IOO being the utmost they could find at present. The speaker had written to Mr Massey on the question, the reply being received that the Prime Minister would confer with the Minister ot Public Works and advise whether the proposal could be acceded toi The chairman and Messrs Holland and Drayton were appointed as a deputation to wait on the City Council on Monday night with regard to unemployment. The same gentlemen, with the addition of Mr Marshall, were appointed to meet the Prime Minister next week. A donation of £2 for relief work was received from tliOynicmbers of the Woolston Methodist Church. Mr .Drayton suggested that the time naa ripe to appeal to the public for subsciiptions; otherwise the committee might not be able to do as much as rtuu needed to relieve distress. Mr Leadley suggested that before such an appeal \vu<> made, deputations should wait on the' local bodies. He .noved in that direction. The secretary was instructed to write to local bodies in the matter.

Mr Drayton said that if the committeo waited until the local bodies were approached valuable time would be wasted. He moved .that a public appeal should be made for funds. The motion was seconded by Mr Marshall, who said that he had seen enough lately to convince him that there were numerous cases of hardship about. Mr Leadley and the chairman expressed the opinion that there had been so many appeals to the public lately that it was doubtful if the appeal would be successful. * Mr Fielder suggested that work might be taken in hand again to improve the Gardens. It was decided that a public appeal should be made. The chairman was appointed to interview the chairman of the Domains Board and Mr J as." Young, curator, as to whether suitable work could be found for workless men similar to that carried out last year. Mr Leadley was appointed treasurer to the fund. ' Mr Leadley suggested approaching a number of public-minded ladies to work in conjunction with the committee with a view to relieving unemployment among women. The Committee would not confine their efforts to men, be said. The chairman said he thought that the Social Welfare Association was best able to deal with the question. He thought that if work were found for men, the unemployment question would be considerably eased.