UNEMPLOYMENT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT

♦ ALLOCATION OF £2850 PROTEST AGAINST CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION To protest against the action of the Christchurch City Council in allocating £2850 from the electricity account to the Metropolitan Relief Association with a recommendation that it be used for necessitous cases, instead of agreeing to the request of the Unemployed Workers' Association that the money be administered by" a committee representing the council and the unemployed, about 300 unemployed men assembled in Latimer square yesterday afternoon. It was proposed that city councillors should meet the men that afternoon at the council chambers to discuss the decision, and that a demonstration should be made at the premises of the Metropolitan Relief Association. While an endeavour was being made to arrange for the attendance of councillors to hear the men's demands, addresses were given in the square by members of the Unemployed Workers' Association. A constable and a sergeant of police were present at the meeting, and there were also a constable and a sergeant at the City Council Chambers. It was also said by Cr. A. E. Armstrong, who explained the negotiations, that there were about 20 policemen at the relief depot. The meeting was orderly throughout, and when it was reported that it had not been possible to arrange for councillors to meet the men, the latter adjourned to the Trades Hall, to discuss the matter with trade union secretaries who are members of the City Council. It was decided at the Trades Hall

that the men should assemble again In Latimer square at 10.30 a.m. to-day to discuss the matter further, and if possible to interview the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.). No demonstration was made at the relief depot. RALLY AT Y.M.C.A. NEARLY 1"i0 HOYS ATTEND Nearly 150 boys, both employed and unemployed, attended a rally held at the Christchurch Young Men's Christian Association's building last night, to broaden their interest in the work of the Boys' Employment Committee of the association, and its aims. The employed boys who attended were those who had been assisted by the committee in obtaining positions. After addresses had been given, the boys were enrolled for classes, either at the Christchurch Technical College or at the association.

The boys were welcomed by Mr J. E. Purchase, chairman of the education committee, who expressed pleasure at the number attending. Those present were representative oC two groups—those who had been placed in employment, and those who were not in such a fortunate position. The attendance of those in the first group was evidence of appreciation of tlie help that had been received, and a recognition of the necessity to make themselves as capable as possible for the work that was before them. There might be some who had obtained positions which they did not like. That was not unusual in tho present times, but the mere fact of employment was going to help them tremendously in fitting them for other positions. Those who were not in work were particularly wise in coming, he thought. The value of the employment committee had increased, and the citizens of Christchurch were beginning to look more to the committee for boys to fill positions. Committee's Interest Mr G. M. Keys, vocational guidance officer, said that last year nearly 2000 boys had gone through his hands. The officers of the department were genuinely doing their best to find positions for the boys. It was particularly encouraging, he said, that only three of the boys present had been trying to find positions for more than a year. He emphasised the importance of keeping regularly in touch with tho employment bureau. One of the most conspicuous features of the work last year was the number of boys who wrote to the committee to say they had obtained work

by their own efforts. The Government was responsible for much of this, MiKeys said. The Post and Telegraph Department, for example, had taken on boys as messengers. That had not been done for some years. But the boys would have to rely primarily on their own efforts. In "his concluding remarks Mr Keys urged the boys to try always to improve themselves and fit themselves for bigger things. Value of Character A short address was given by Mr V. H. French, secretary of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, who spoke on the value of character. Mr French said he was going to start from the assumption that real men were always wanted and had never been so much needed as to-day. He believed that manhood was a prime necessity. The test the boys of to-day were going through was about the biggest test they could have. But testing was the only method of proving one's worth. Every great man was the one who had been compelled by something within him—character. A.ll that the Boys' Employment Committee and the Young Men's Christian Association were trying to do was to increase the number of things that would compel boys to stand up and face the position in front of them. He believed there were tremendous possibilities before every boy who had the makings of a man, They were on the brink of a wonderful age that would offer fine opportunities, but success would depend on the central strength of the individual—his character and his manhood.