IN CANADA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1932, Page 6

IN CANADA

COMMUNAL EMPLOYMENT

A scheme to organise opportunities for casual employment Ims been developed in Hamiltct, Ontario, and has been copied in Toronto. The Canadian slogan for the scheme, “A Man a Block,” indicates the tim. Each block of houses in a residential area is canvassed thoroughly by a resident. The object of the canvasser (who acts under a. Citizens’ Committee) is to. obtain from as many of bis neighbours as possible a definite promise, for a stated period, of at least one hour’s work per week for a, local worker at present unemployed. 'The work must he of a kind which does not displace other paid labour. Originally, in Hamilton, it was work Nil the garden or garage, or odd jobs about the house. It will be seen that: 30 good promises from 30 householders would mean 30 hours of assured employment weekly; possibly more, for the worker is encouraged to obtain other hours of work in the “territory” assigned to him. The scheme is, in effect, the building-up of separate hours of work in neighbouring houses into a working week for a, worker now workless. The organisation is voluntary, and on a civic basis. .The Churches and other bodies anxious to mitigate the existing distress co-operate. A central committee gives the proposal the necessary publicity, sets the scheme going ward by ward, appoints honorary ward-officers, receives reports, and exercises general supervision.