UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS AT LOW EBB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4487, 5 August 1930, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS AT LOW EBB.

(CIOMMITTEE SUSPEND. OPERATIONS. PENDING RECEIPT OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. The Executive Committee set up to control the unemployment funds decided last evening to cease operations until receipt of the Government subsidy ion mollies already raised, and expended, or until sufficient money is raised by local effort to warrant a continuance of relief works. . There were present at the meeting' the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) in the chair, Crs. John Ross and S. K. Cowley, Mr. A. G. Huntley (road foreman), Mr. W. Neville (waterworks foreman) and Messrs D. Ball, J. Langdon, T. McGee and the secretary* (Mr. Win. Trueman). An apology for absence was received from Mr. F. Robinson. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The reason for the cessation of work was due to the financial statement submitted by the treasurer (Mr. Wm. Trueman), which was ns follows: —

Receipts: (Subscription from all sources), £77 19/7; Borough Council subsidy of £1 for £l, £77 19/7; a total of £155 19/2.

Expenditure to date: —Wages, £IOO 13/10, tools, £l3 0/9; work on private properties, £2 4/9; a to\tal of £lls 19/4. - Accounts to be passed for payment totalled £33 14/-, after payment of which a credit balance of £(> 5/10 was left. Mr. Trueman stated that “private work” consisted of clearing lupins on the Raiveiisworth section and roadway fronting the tennis courts, the latter amount being recoverable. Since the committee had been in operation work to the equivalent 287 men receiving a half day's work each had been carried out. The unemployment register to date stood at 90. Although application had been made to the Government for the subsidy in connection with the money raised and all the necessary details had been complied with, no reply had vet been received. The only receipts coming- to hand at present were from the Sunday football.

The committee decided that under the circumstances the only thing In do was to suspend operations hi the meantime. FOREMENS REPORTS. Mr. A. (1. Huntley reported that during the past week 1 the men working under his supervision had completed the Purcell Street footpath formation work and spread the trial truck of cinders on this footpath, which covered a distance of six chains.. .The cutting in Johnston Street had been set back and there was now ample room for a nine foot footpath from Union Street to the junction with the existing path in Johnston Street. A start had also been made- on the formation of the Gladstone Street footpath where levels had been taken.

Afr. W. Neville reported that his gang had cleared between four and

live acres of lupins on the Target .Reserve, erected 22 chains of fencing for which posts were split from 'Council trees, and planted 45001 trees. COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS APPRECIATED. The Mayor said that he regretted that the committee could not carry out any further worlrs until more funds were available. The great majority of people appreciated the efforts of the committee and the unemployed the assistance voluntarily given them. It was also conceded that the work had been handled efficiently and ' dispensed equally to the benefit of the most needy. The womenfolk, he know very much appreciated the steps taken to assist the men out of work. He took the opportunity of thanking all who' had assisted so liberally.

It was decided to forward a letter of thanlks to Messrs S. Austin and C 4. Judd for a. cartload of eating swedes.