UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5143, 24 June 1927, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT.

WHAT WANGANUI IS DOING.

STATEMENT BY COUNCILLOR.

Cr. C. H. Burnett (chairman of the Works Committee of the Wanganui City Council) made the following statement of tihe position in Wanganui to a “Herald” reporter “We are straining every effort,” said Cr. Burnett, “to deal with the serious position that confronts the city in regard to unemployment. His Worship the Mayor .and. the city clerk and treasurer (Mr Murch) have already made urgent appeals, through the Press explaining the position. At the present time the Works Department, through the City Council, are taking every step to retain the large staff already on the pay-sheets of the council. .When it is considered that our weekly pay-sheet now exceeds £llOO, the city will recognise our position. We are now pushing on drainage and unemployment works, and are absorbing as many married men with families as we can, and as money is provided. If any citizens are interested I would be glad if they would inspect the work we, for instance, are doing in Purnell Street extension, Just pa.st the old rubbish tip. We have a number of men engaged there who are giving us excellent service.

“In fact, not only the relief men but all the staff recognise our difficulties, and are endeavouring to give us good service. I cannot stress too much the seriousness of having so many of our citizens with dependants out of employmeint, and ask a.U who can to contribute what they can to help us through the winter. Every £1 contributed means £2 towards wages. Wages are spent throughout the city, and find their way back to the business people, who in their turn have had a trying season. Apart from this feature, all the work being done is good, useful public work that will improve the city in every way.

“In Wanganui East on Monday night a large meeting will be held to organise funds to do some £l2OO worth of urgent drainage. This sum will carry a £1 for £1 subsidy, so that £loo' is raised in Wanganui East we can immediately put on 20 to 30 married men, and carry through a really useful and necessary scheme. Is it not far better for our citizens to contribute in'this way than contribute through the medium of charitable aid ? We are sure • that when the position is fully recognised and understood our citizens will not allow the blot of unemployment to rest upon our fair city. His Worship has already expressed the Council’s appreciation of what has been done by the citizens already, and the manner our council’s staff has risen to tlie occasion.

“I might say that the reference made yesterday to the fact that a married man with seven children had been discharged was true, but it referred to the Tramway Department, where the man had. I understand, been employed • on a street repair gang. My committee will endeavour to place this man with the unemploeyd gang as early as possible, if the facts are as stated.” j