UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT

£2,000 TO DUNEDIN AS A GRANT FOUR CENTRES TREATED ALIKE Tho £2,000 which lias been authorised by the Government to be expended on tho relief of unemployment in Dunedin is, according to advico received by tho mayor (the Hon. W. 1!. Taverner), to bo a straight-out grant, and not subject to subsidy by the council, as previously announced. Yesterday the mayoi received the following telegram from the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward):— 1 “On further consideration I have authorised £2,DUO as a grant for unemployment in Dunedin, the same as in Christchurch, where it was inadvertently advised as a grant instead of a subsidy. Tho work will, as usual, require to bo submitted to the Dublin Works Department, Dunedin, and not expended on maintenance. Tho four centres arc being treated alike.” The message from Sir Joseph is in response to a communication which was sent to tho Prime Minister on Tuesday evening at the direction of the finance Committee of the City Council, urging that further consideration bo given to the question of making Dunedin a straight-out grant, as was done in the case of Christchurch. Tho town clerk has taken immediate steps to have prepared a list of suitable relief works for submission to the Government for its approval. It is hoped that the Government's approval will be received in time to permit of tho starting of tlicso works as soon as possible after the New Year holidays. Ail applications for work to bo provided by tlio £2,OUU will have to he made to the Government Labour Jiuroaii, as was the case with previous relief works. Preference will be given to married men, who will bo required ,OAao inedL pecial EalS aasetaoin tha to produce a certificate signed by a ratepayer testifying to at_ least six months’ residence in tho city in the last six months. It is not yet known whether the grant of £2,000 is to include tho cost of necessary plant and material that will be required to enable the works to be put in baud. Advico from the Government is being sought on this point. Tho mayor stales that lie has communicated" with tho Minister of Public Works suggesting that approval to the schedule of works he left with the local public works engineer, thus obviating tho delay of sending to Wellington for approval. His Worship is using every endeavour to have the money made available for its purpose as soon as possible.