PROBLEM STILL UNSOLVED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 125, 12 June 1937, Page 6

PROBLEM STILL UNSOLVED

Absorption of Sustenance Men HAVELOCK NORTH VIEWS "During ihe six years in which ihe board has been handling labour under tbe No. 5 scheme, our men have never given any trouble and, when it was made known to tbem that they were Jikely to be placed on sustenance, every man asked that an effort be made to provide further work under tbe Ko. 5 scbeme. They bad no wish to go on sustenance, and tbis, I think is "a good indication of the type of man who is unemployed in this district," xeported tbe clerk, Mr W. V Anderson, at tbe monthly meeting lasc evening of tbe Havelock North Town Board. All work authorised under tbe No. ff scbeme bad been completed, added Mr Anderson, and tbe Labour Department bad placed all unemployed men va sustenance. Those present at tbe meeting were: Messrs H. R. von Dadelszen (esatfr), 4* Obristie, A, A. Toop, A. R. Greenwood, E. G. Stratton, J. J. Nimon, A. J. Paton and tbe clerk, Mr Anderson. Tbe question of mqn on sustenance •y&s ako referred to in the repoxt of ^Bessrs Nimon and Anderson, wbo represented the Town Board at tbe conference of local bodies called by the Hon. W. E. Barnard, H.P., to discuss with tbe acting-blinister of Labour, the Hon, P. G. "Webb, tbe possibilities of employing all fit men at present on sustenance on works of some benefit to the country. Delegates from each feody wero osked to report to their respective boards and to bring forward to a further conference in three weeks' time details of works they are prepared to put in band .to rebeve tbe present position. "Unfortunately, we wero nnable to obtain a definite statement from tbe Minister of the extent of assistance ■wiich would be forthcoming from the Government," stated the report. "Mr Oullen, M.P., considered that the Government shotdd pay 90 per cent. of mnj approved works, hut Mr "Webb gaid that be eould not commit Cabinet but that, if each local body would: ctate definitely tbe extent to wbich it eould finance any works, then the Government would state the extent to wbich it was prepared to subsidise. "The conference, tberefore, does not ■eem to bave brougbt ns any nearer to a aolution Of the unemployment problem. As matiere stand, it would appear tbat ihe local body which states ■Ihe best claim will receive the most assistance, but this will still leave the men witbout work in districts nnable to finance successfully a scheme of employment." It was pointed out by members at, the meeting that there were some fichemes wbich migbt benefit all local bodies in the district and that there seemed to be a need for a general scbeme in which all the bodies concerned eould co-operate. "But," inteiposed Mr. Stratton, "tbis is merely getting back to the No. 5 scbeme, so that tbe Govemment bas not solved the nnemployment question, wbich it promised to do." Mr Nimon did not think there was any way in» which the scheme eould be made to benefit Havelock North. There was insufficient money available to finance any improvement schemes. The cemetery committee Teported ihat the sealing of paths in blocks B and C had been completed and that the whole of the paths in the older poriion of the cemetery were now in ilrst-class order. The spoil removed in levelling paths had been nsed to complete the drive at the top of the cemetery. There heing a considerahle amount o| developmental work still to be done, it was snggested that the clerk should snhmit an estimate of the amount of work whiek eould he done and that the matter should he placed before the local bodies conference with the Minister of Labour on June 24 in the hope ihat fit men now on sustenance eould be nsed on the work. "The time is not far distant when the board will need to aequire additional land for tho cemetery, and we feel that, if a small committee were appointed to go into the matter of acquiring land, arrangements eould be made with the Government to engage sustenance men on the woTk of forming drivesi and paths on the new ground," said the xeport. > As only a small per-ec-ntage of burials in the cemetery were of ex-resldents of the town district, the work eould be regardod as of nse to the district. The annual appeal for suhscriptions towards thc upkeep of the ^emetery had been sent out. "All roads are now in good shape, shoulders of sealed roads have been attended to, and water is getting away well, 3 ' stated the elerkk report. Tlie widening of Joll road had been completed and arrangements had been made with the Power Board to moVe iwo power poles. Light metalling was needed at the bowling-green corner. The filling between Fitzroy and Duart xoads on Campbell street had been metalled in preparaxion for sealing next spring. During the month 1,913,000 gallons of water had been pumped and two new conuections made. A fair strike of grass had been made on the new portion of the' domain.