NELSON UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1930, Page 1

NELSON UNEMPLOYED

CITY SEEKS SUHSLDY. By Telegraph--Per Press Association.’ NELSON, December 4. A visit was paid to the Waimea County Council to-day by the Mayor of Nelson Mr W. J. Moffat who explained that the position regarding unemployment in the city was desperate and the Couiicil at that moment were holding a meeting to deal with the matter. At present there were 128 men on the Unemployment Bureau list, and the officer's-in-charge had no instructions how to deal with them. Over fifty married men in the ctv were ouf of work, and information was received this morning that 68 more men had been put off at Tophouse, and these would be coming into town. The Government had, apparently, now handed over the responsibility to the Unemployment Board, aud had put off all men on relief works. Christmas was coming, continued the Mayor, and the position was serious. To help to meet the positon the City Council had started a number of works. hi so doing, they were taking a risk, as the Unemployment Board might not pay a subsidy on the work, but some immediate action was imperative, and they had taken the risk. The Mayor read the Unemployment. Board’s decision offering subsidies of L2 for Cl on approved relief works, a condition be : ng that the wages he 14s per day. He asked the Waimea County Council to put some work in hand to help the position. The City Council intended to put on 40 men. Mr Moffat said that the people were paying in their unemployment levy, and they should get something hack Christchurch had been granted £2500 in subsidy.

On resuming, the County ( ouneil itself passed the following resolution: “That while sympathising with Nelson city in its efforts #> relieve unemployment tin's Council, having regard to that which it considers the unreasonable amount paid to the unemployed. and which, in ( its opinion, conduces rather to a further unemployment than to its abatement, will not participate in the movement until wages are so far reduced, as not to ac) as an incentive to men otherwise employed to throw up their work and go on relict works.”