THE UNEMPLOYED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 554, 8 July 1909, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED.

EXECUTIVE CALLED'TOO ETHER,

UROEiYr APPLICATIONS,

Tho subecriptione tewards tho relief fund aro, mounting up to such an extent that the oxecutivo committee of the fund has been culled , together, and will meet at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon, when it. will bo decided whon work will bo commenced. 'I'ho chairman of tho Victoria College Council is being asked tebo present at the meeting so ns k> assist the committee. in its itrrangcmonts. ■ ■ '

Up to yofltwday 160 applications for work had been received, tho latest applications to hand being from men who have given- the country districts a trial, without success. "I have tramped the country for fivo weeks and only got throe days' work. Now I'm bootless and hungry,", was the remark of ono applicant. "I've swagged tho country for the past month," wrote another applicant, "and- I only obtained two days' work." Still • another man, who had done -nothing for throe | nionths, was willing to take work in the town or country. "Anything at; all—child ill with sscarlet fever," was tho brief, pathetic ending to the appeal, Mr. Gco.'Willis, secretary of the Unemployed Fund, wishes us to make it known that all communications bearing on applications for work will be regarded as strictly confidential... Hβ dosiroe this to bo known, as it has been pointed'out that eomo mon would rather suffer-in silence than have tho world know that they are on the list ofthoso seeking work under the fund. Such men have nothing to fear on the score of publicity. If work can-be provided for them, they will be notified, but no lists of unemployed or anything of the kind will bo exhibited to the public gaze.

The secretary: of " tho Society, of Amalgamated . Carpenters and Joiners (Mr. J. T. Stobart) haa handed Mr., Willis :a list of about" 20 members of his union who have, intimated their wtQmgness to accept troeplantiug or any other kind, of work that may bo , forthcoming. Altogether there arc about 170 members of the union out of employment at the present time. Until the other union secretaries hand in their lists it will be impossible to ascertain the number of men for whom work will need to be provided.. SUBSCRIPTIONS. Tbe bon. secretary of the,fund .(Mr. Geo. I Willis) had banked £155 2a. up to midday yesterday, and he considers that there is at present about £300 in hand and promised. Mr. E. C. Kirk has collected about £42 with his list, and : Dr. Newman has about £26' in hand., The donations acknowledged yesterday are: — ' - ' £ 8. d. W.M. Bannatyne and, Co. ... 21 0. 0 Walter Nathan ... ... ... 10 10 0 Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operatrvo Association 5 5 0 Mrs. (Dr.) Newman '500 Mrs. 6. M. Holdsworth ... -500 " Well-wisher" 10 0 "Widow's Mite" ... -. ... 10 0 Mrs. H. R. Richmond 10 0 Mrs. Rotheram ..." ... ... "■ 1 0 0 Mrs. C. W. Smith '0 10 0 J. Newhbuse ... ... ... ... 010 0 "J. Hardup," 0 5 0 Anonymous 0 5 0 Already acknowledged . .~ 127 7 0 '" Total ire 12 , 0 WANCANUI AFFECTED. Advice received by.Mr. M. J. Reardon, secretary of the General Labourers , Union, states that a large number of strangers have of late been calling at Wangauui to look for work. The visitors stay for a week or two, and then t&ss ,on, but their places are immediately filled by others, and so the procession proceeds. A good many of the men, it is stated, are avoiding L tlio Labour Department as far as of a growing feeling that Labour Department work is more in the nature of .relief than work actually required to bo done/