UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 3 December 1930, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

WORK OF THE BOARD. SETTING UP OF LOCAL COMMITTEES. SUBSIDIES OF £25,000. j THE PEESS Special Service. ] WELLINGTON, December 2.

Practically the whole attention oi tho Unemployment Board is at present being fo.-us.ad on immediate steps to relievo distress during the holiday period, and during the week-end the members were busy in their respective districts conferring with local authorities concerning the allocation of £25,000 in subsidies, and tho setting up of local committees. Tho Board resumed ita sittings today, and the reports on these negotiations and applications for subsidies wero considered. A big effort is being made to establish local committees in the various centres, and the citizens are urged to give these committees every co-operation. It is realised by tho mombers ot the Board that nothing they do will be a complete success unless they receive this assistance from the public. Work of Local Committees. So far, no definite scheme for the operations of the local committees has buen devised; but it is expected that an announcement will be made within the next few days. However, one of the functions of the committees will be to act as an intermediary between the pcoplo who have jobs to offer and those seeking work. Supposing a householder is able to give a man employment for one or two days in his garden, he will apply to the 'onnnittee, whieh will arrange for a man out of tho ranks of the unemploy ;d to carry out the work. These ~<>bs will bo subsidised and the Board is devising safeguards to prevent dish-most collaboration for the purpose «"1 obtaining it subsidy. Some form of check on the work will be made. Steps have already been taken to set up the Wellington committee, und those with work to offer are asked to watch for announcements. In North Taranaki a committee has already been set up, and it should be making its presence effective in a lew days' time. Relief During Holidays. The scheme as outlined must not be considered as part of the permanent policy of tho Board, which at the present "time is concentrating on immediate relief for the holiday period. Its main policy has yet to come, and it will be obvious that this cannot be announced before comprehensive data have been collected and carefully considered.

A TALK WITH THE MAYOR.

WHAT CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE. "If you don't behave yourself, you are going out." Starting off by telling the crowd of unemployed, principally young men, probably many single men, who trooped into the public gallery of the City Council Chamber yesterday morning, that he wanted to have an understanding with them, the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) almost immediately, on some slight display of disorder, made the remark above quoted. His hearers did not need to be told how or by what agoncy they would go out. There were two policemen (at times, three) in the Council Chamber proper, and one or two others were visible at the back of the public gallery, near the entrance. Their services were not called upon, however. Prepared to Co-operate. The Mayor said that he wanted to have an understanding to see whero they were. If they werg prepared to come in a spirit of co-operation and a desire to get the boat results for the unemployed, all would be well; if they came as they did on Monday, it would be the last time they would meet in the Council Chamber. He was not going to meet them unless they treated him with the same courtesy that ho treated them. There were one or two men leading them that they were very foolish to allow to do so. One man didn't belong to Cliristehurch, and had no right to be there, and to speak for Christchurch unemployed. If they wanted him (the speaker) to hear their grievances they must choose different spokesmen. Eeferring to the conference held on Monday, the Mayor said that as a result of the meeting, it was probable that work would be found for hundreds of men. (Hean, hear, and applause.) Later he said that it was expected that work would be found for 800 or 900 men. The scene that took place when the unemployed broke into the conference, he described as "a perfect disgrace to the City," but said that it was led only by a tiny group of mischief-makers.

Christmas Cheer.

He had called a meeting of all social workers and representatives of e y social organisation had been invited, to consider the question of providing Christmas cheer for the wives and children of the unemployed, and he believed that as a result of the meeting every single family of the unemployed in Christchurch would have some Christmas cheer sent to it. (Applause.) They were going to carry on the good work in spite of those fellows who were doing their best to ruin it, and to estrange sympathy. _ A voice: They are not trying to destrov your work. The Mayor: It is time you men got rid of these firebrands. A voice: Then you will have to put away Holland, won't you? Ono of the unemployed rose to speak. "I won't hear you," said Mr Mayor, "You sit down."

Apology Demanded. Cr. J. W. Beanland was asked by one of those present to apologise for having, the previous day, told one of the men to go to Hell. .... , , Cr. Beanland: If you think John Beanland is apologising, you are speakBig to the wrong man. I'll never do it! There was considerable interruption. The Mayor: You fellows, in conversation, have sent one another to Hell many a time, and never thought anything of it. I understand Cr. Beanland •poke only to * a mall group of men,

T n fi, ho^ ol ? me that if 1 h a<i been there ave dono the same - J unc a number of the men left tils gallery. When quiet was restored tho Mayor ♦ u they W0lll(1 be glad to hear jinfl •# U l oui l ) l o yed had to suggest a, if possible, carry out their suggestions. " ® t>an^an| l explained what was being done to provide work before Christni'is, and said that they realised the dii> nculties of single men, and that they wanted work just tho same as married men. Ho explained the steps taken to induce the Government to resume work °u the Lewis Pass road, so that single men might be absorbed. If was alleged by one of tho unemployed that differential treatment was given at the Labour Department's Unemployment Office. The Mayor said that if details were given he would have the matter looked into. Cr. Beanland told a questioner that tho men employed on tho City Council's loan works were selected by the City Engineer and his assistant. Shortly afterwards most of the men who had left the gallery returned. ' 'Work or Full Maintenance.'' One of the unemployed said that they wanted work or full maintenance. The Mayor: My dear boy, it is all very well to say thai, but can you point out to me the legal authority for the City Council doing so. Can you show me any authority for the Council to distribute money for maintenance? The only people who can distribute relief is the Hospital Board. In tho course of further disenssioa the Mayor, referring to Monday's conference, said that they had got everybody on th.e move, and hoped to give 800 or 900 men two weeks' work, at trade union rates, between now and Christmas. The Government laid down that for unemployed relief work they were not going to pay more than Its per day, and would only subsidise up to that amount. Tho City Council never paid 14s, it paid tho trade union rate. (Applause.) No Big Sack of Money. Cr. E. H. Andrews, chairman of the Council's Finance Committee, said that the position in Christchurch was tho same as obtained in other cities in the Dominion, and ho believed that Christchurch had done as well as any other centre, though he admitted that there was a great deal to do. it seemed to him that the unemployed came along under the mistaken idea that the City Council had a big sack of money that it could dip into. lie explained that in April each year tho Council struck its rates and could get no more money from the ratepayers till it struck rates t,lie following April. The sum of £IO,(HJO had been put on tho estimates for unemployment and £20,000 had been spent. The City was bearing the brunt of it; some ol' the other local bodies were doing their part, others were not. The City Council had put in an application promptly to tho Unemployment Board. Mr P. 11. Climie and himself had waited on the Christchurch members of the Board and had enlisted their sympathy in the matter of urging the Government to resume work on the Lewis Pass road, so that work could bo provided for single men, and they had promised to take up the matter with the Public Works Department. After some further discussion the meeting broke up.