UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5146, 1 July 1927, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

PAEROA BOROUGH PROPOSALS. A HITCH IN NEGOTIATIONS. With reference to the proposal to raise a loan of £2OOO to carry out preliminary work on the main highways within the Paeroa Borough, and at the. same time provide relief for the local unemployed, the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) made a statement at the special meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday night.

The Mayor said that Cr. F. E. Flatt (chairman of the. Finance Committee) and he had left Wellington on Saturday night last after interviewing the Ministers of Public Works and Labour, as well as heads of departments, anticipating that no difficulty existed in the proposals, which would prevent the council from putting in hand its relief of unemployment work. However, a hitch had occurred on a purely technical definition in connection with a portion of the proposed works. The consent of the Local Bodies Government Loans Board has ■not been obtained for the full amount Of money required.

At Wednesday’s meeting the council took a very serious view of the position that had arisen, and requested His Worship to return to Wellington with authority to reopen the whole matter with the Government, and also Cr. Flatt to accompany him if deemed advisable. It was realised that the local unemployment position was becoming more acute, a.-nd that no stone should be left unturned to provide some form of relief.

Accordingly, a telegram was despatched to Mr A. M. Sainuel M.P., asking him to arrange an appointment. Yesterday morning the Mayor, received the following telegram from Mr Samuel: —

“Have arranged for interview with Mr. F. W. Furkert (Engineer-in-Chlef) and the Minister of Public Works for 11 a.m. on Friday (to-day) in MinisteUs room. I am also endeavouring to get the Prime Minister to attend.” The Mayor left for Wellington last night, and expects to return to Paeroa to-morrow, in which case a special meeting of the council is to be held in the evening.