UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20048, 13 December 1928, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT

GOVERNMENT ASKED FOR £2,009

REPLY FROM MR TAVERNER Yesterday afternoon the deputymayor (Cr J. S. Douglas) wired to lion’. W. B. Taverner asking Inin to interview the Prime Minister with a view of getting a grant of £2,000 to relieve unemployment in Dunedin, intensified by the paying off 9! about 100 men from the tree planting work on the Blue Mountains last week. In addition to that number, the local labour department had 100 fresh applications on its books. At the meeting of the City Council last night Cr Douglas said' that a telegram in reply had been received from Mr Taverner, who said he had already discussed the matter with the Prime Minister, and would advise them definitely as soon as possible. Most of the men paid off from the Blue Mountains wore married, and nearly all belonged to Dunedin. As £2,000 had been granted to Christchurch, ho had made a similar request. Ho did not know whether that £2,000 was part of the £60,000,000 they had heard about. Cr Clark said that, though unemployment was not as bad in the “ stagnant ” south as in the “prosperous 1 north, some money was needed hero for relief. There was plenty of work waiting to be done here, and tho council should apply for £2,000 to-show that they were not quite “ stagnant.” Cr Shaddock said that, in connection with tho work at Waipori, there was a waiting list of 293 men. Cr Douglas. “They arc probably included in tho list we havo before us.” Cr Clark: “They may not be.”