UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1929, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

CENSURE BY* MINISTER

QUESTION OF SUBSIDY

PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept, 13. A stricture, on the Palmerston North Borough Council for its small part in providing for the relief of the unemployment is contained in a latter from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. A. E. Ran son) in a reply to a telegram sent jointly by Messrs. J. A. Nash and J. Linklater, M.P.’s, who asked that a subsidy be granted the Manawatu County Council to enable it to proceed with road work.

The Minister, in his letter,' states that the Main Highways Board after consideration, is unable to see its way to authorise further funds for the work suggested just at the present time. The board understands that the Manawatu County Council has loan moneys available for works on Foxton-Himitangi, section of the Wellingtoin-Auckland main highway, and if the County Council is prepared to proceed with the work between Foxton and Himitangi in order to keep some or all of the present men in employment for a while longer, the Main Highways may be agreeable to its proceeding with the work if the council is prepared wholly to ■ finance the work in the meantime and to wait until next financial year for payment of the Main Highway Board’s quota. If this proposition is acceptable to the Manawatu County Council, the Minister suggests that it submit proposals, including estimates of cost, to the Main Highways Board, : n order that the liability of the board may be determined and its consent to such an arrangement obtained. This would, of course, be necessary before the work commenced.

“I would, however;” he says, “draw attention to the fact that, in comparison with many other local bodies throughout New Zealand, the Palmerston North Borough Council does not appear to have done a very great deal in connection with relief of unemployment, and I would again suggest that if possible it submit proposals for suitable relief works, and the question of Government subsidy from the moneys: specially voted by Parliament for re-‘ lief of unemployment will receive fav-. ourable consideration.”