THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 1927. AN URGENT APPEAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5165, 15 August 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 1927. AN URGENT APPEAL.

That the Mayor and councillors of the Borough of Paeroa are- deserving of hearty commendation for the way tliey have handled the unemployment problem there can be little doubt. The position obtaining in Paeroa a few weeks ago was more serious than perhaps many people realised. As Mayor of the town Mr Marshall had many cases of extreme poverty and hardship brought under his notice- of married men with families being in positive need and unable to obtain work. The Mayor and liis council realised that the position ha.il to be faced, and that it was necessary to act promptly. As a result of negotiations bristling with difficulties ,and necessitating two journeys to Wellington,- the Government authorised an expenditure- of certain money and approved of certain work being undertaken to provide positions for the local unemployed. The work, which is now well in hand, and is of a permanent nature, lias provided relief work for 28 local men who were in extreme need. Employment could be found for a further batch of men if more plant were available. Horses and drays particularly are required. An appeal has been made by the council for the loan free of cost of two drays, horses-, and harness. This appeal has our hearty approbation, apd is one that we suggest might very well be readily responded to. The position in the borough, although better than it was, has not been wholly overcome, and tlie fact that men are still applying for relief work should be an inducement for further effort on the part of those who are more fortunately situated. There are doubtlessly many settlers f who would willingly lend their plant to the borough if the- real need tha.t exists for assistance was known. Generally, there- is not a great deal of work at this season of tlie year for drays and horses on thefarm, and as the horses,- would be well fed and cared for by the council during the time they were- on loan, this fact, and also that humanitarian work would be carried out, should induce farmers to respond readily to the council’s appeal. Now a word to the borough ratepayers. The efforts of the council to assist unemployment are imposing a heavy drain on its finances. Therefore, in order to ease the position an appeal is made to ratepayers to make a special effort to pay rates find water charges promptly. Such charges have to be paid once only each year, and if tliey are paid at once ratepayers will not only have the satisfaction of discharging their liabilities, but will gain the comforting knowledge that they have assisted materially in promoting the welfare of less fortunate citizens.