N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1931, Page 5

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

LAST WEEK'S REGISTRATIONS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

4\ ELLINGTON, January 29

A new record tor uiKinpioyinuit regisua.ions was created tor ilia ween elided January 26, during wnieli period the total milliner of nun out oi work in New Zealand rose to 1(3.507, an increase of 1<32 over the previous seven days. This represents an increase oi 1 2..02d over the week ended May 26, 1930, when the -Minister of Labour decided to make the returns available.

The following are the returns of the unemployed in the main centres for the week ended January 26.

Auckland with dependents 1934, without dependents i9U6, Wellington 1326 —927, Christchurch 1427—679, Dunedin 571—423, Invercargill 162—119. The totals, with those foj- the previous week in parenthesis, are:— Auckland, 3,900 (3,495), 'Wellington 2,233 (2,233), Christchurch 2,106 (2,056) Dunedin 994 (828), Invercargill 281 (365).

AtJCK LAND EVICTION

UNEMPLOYED OBJECT

AUCKLAND, January 30

Two hundred unemployed gathered in the garden of a house in Newton this morning, to resist eviction by the bailiff of a tenant out of work. The presence of ten uniformed police and two plain clothes men did not deter the gathering from forcibly expressing their opinion of the owner of the cottage, and having done so, they all (including a number of women), sang “The Red Flag.” The tenant, who had been out of work for several months, has a wife and three young children. He complained to the Unemployed Workers’ Association that he had been given a day and a half’s notice to vacate, including yesterday’s Anniversary holiday. The assemblage informed the police, who had been sent tor. that they were there at the invitation of the tenant, and refused to disperse until given an undertaking that the tenant would he allowed to remain until noon on Monday.

HOSPITAL BOARD BURDEN.

DEFICIT AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, January SJD,

Over-expending its estimates now at the rate of £I6OO a month, the Social Welfare Committee of the Wellington Hospital Board will conclude its financial year with a debit balance of over £6OOO, if it is not relieved from, the responsibility of assisting the unemployed. An announcement that if relief were not granted, the general taxpayer would be called upon next year to meet an extra burden of costs, was made by the Chairman, Air I*. Castle, at a meeting df the Board to-day. Presenting the report of the committee, Air G. Petheriek chairman said that the accounts for payment amounted to £4,165, almost double those of any previous month, and £I6OO more than the estimates. “The position is appalling,” he said. It was decided to set up a sub-com-mittee to endeavour to arrange for dealing with the enormous amount of work which is now occupying the committee for many hours a week.

railway agitation. AND LOW WAGE ADVOCATES. MASTERTON, January 30. A further protest was made by the Wnirarapa Progress League to-day concerning the Government’s attitude as to the inquiry regarding the Rimutaka Deviation. Following on a recent letter from Mr Ransom, as ActingPrime Minister, stating that he proposed to refer to Mr Forbes on lus return, the question of postponing consideration of the matter until the economic position improved, the League decided to send a summary of the facts and correspondence to the Prime Minister, accompanied by a /''ong protest against Air Ransom’s proposal for an indefinite postponmont, and urein" that a promise made to a deputation on July 31st he honoured without further delay. On that date, the Prime Minister said that the question of the proposed Rimutnka deviation would he submitted to the Hallway Commission for report. The League also decided to urge the Government to revise the rate of 14s per daj 0,1 relief works, especially to s:ng.> men as it was not warranted under existing conditions. The speakers maintained that the payment of b ls P pr (la - v swelled tin- ranks of the unemployed.