UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 63

UNEMPLOYMENT.

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY GRADUATED SCALE PROPOSED. NELSON, June 23. A public meeting passed a resolution urging that the unemployment levy should be increased on incomes of over £3OO a year on a graduated scale, giving the unemployed an extra day’s wbrk per week all round; and also that the work be of a productive or land settlement nature. A strong committee was set up to deal with all eases of local distress. THE JUNE INSTALMENT WAIKATO MINERS’ ATTITUDE. AUCKLAND, June 26. It is believed from inquiries made from the Waikato coal companies that the miners’ unions in the Waikato district have already decided not to pay the June instalment of the unemployment levy. It was stated by the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Seamen’s Union (Mr T. Anderson) that as the seamen’s ballot on the question would occupy about three months, no such ballot was contemplated. LATEST REGISTRATIONS WORK FOUND FOR 33,000 MEN. WELLINGTON, June 26. During the week ended June 22 the registrations of unemployed for the Do minion totalled 44,521, compared with 44,482 for the previous seven days. In supplying particulars of the registrations, the Minister of Labour (Mr S. G. Smith) said the apparent increase for the week was 39. The number of men who had qualified under the No. 5 scheme and were placed in work totalled 28.091; 4746 were engaged under the 4a scheme; and 550 under the 4b scheme The total number of men for whom no work was found was 11,134, but it was probable that the majority of these were not eligible for employment during the week under the'board’s scheme of rationing, whilst others could not be suitably placed on account of their physical disability. Particulars of the registrations in the main centres are as follow:—

The total registrations in the main centres were as follow, the figures for the previous week being also shown:—

DEMANDS ON HOSPITAL BOARDS THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY. WELLINGTON, June 26. The appeal to the Minister of Health (Mr A. J. Stallworthy) to make more money available to hospital boards in order to enable them to cope with the demands for the relief of distress was

made by Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon> in the House of Representatives this evening. He said it was essential that the Minister should face the jaecessity of making more adequate provision for the boards, which were finding it impossible to meet an increasingly difficult position. With the funds at their disposal the boards were unable to provide food for those clamouring for assistance, and they were unable to do anything toward assisting those who were not in a position to pay rent and who were in danger of being turned out into the streets. In his position as Mayor of Christchurch he was visited by about 70 persons daily who wanted food and clothing, and in many instances these had found that the Hospital Board could do nothing for them. If something were not done soon conditions would develop in New Zealand equal to, or even worse, than those in any part of the Empire. This was not an over-statement. Even with the financial position of the country as it existed the Government could not avoid its responsibility for preventing distress. . ° Mr Stallworthy: Do you suggest that the Canterbury Hospital Board has spent the whole of this year’s allocation for outdoor relief? Mr Sullivan said the allocation would be exhausted within a very short time. He was given to understand that the board was spending twice as much as it was estimated would be required for outdoor relief. This was due wholly to the exceptionally large number of applications for relief. A NATIONAL ORGANISATION PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 27. A conference of delegates representing the unemployed workers in various parts of the Dominion was commenced in Wellington this morning, the 'principal business being the formation of a 'national organisation. Resolutions were carried advocating the non-payment of the unemployment levy and suggesting the institution of a scheme to which the working classes would not be called upon to contribute. The conference expressed approval of the action taken by the miners, Mr J. Sanford was elected national secretary, and Mr L. Sim national organiser. Messrs Turner, Neal, Gallagher, and O Reilly, all of Wellington, were appointed a provisional national executive. RELIEF MEASURES IN DUNEDIN THE FOOD DEPOT. The food depot in St. Andrew street, which is under the charge of the Mayoress (Mrs R. S. Black), has been the centre of great activity recently, and it has been decided that, instead of having the depot open only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, it will be kept open every week day from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 11 a.m. Several members of the staff are giving practically the whole of their time to the work of the depot, and the secretarial staff, which is under the charge of Mrs T. C. Ross, has no small task to cope with the business done at the depot. The chief needs of the depot at present are tea, sugar, flour, rice, sago, butter, tinned milk, cocoa, barley, oatmeal, meat, bread, potatoes, and vegetables. The T. and P. Milk Supply Company is giving the depot a supply of milk daily, and this will be given to those men who bring their containers. The depot staff will be pleased to hear from carriers who are prepared to carry gifts from outlying suburbs and districts to St, Andrew street. Mr J. Maxwell, Miller’s Flat, and Mr G. Hunter’s D.O.T. service have already offered their services. POUND-A-WEEK SCHEME The pound-a-week scheme in Christchurch has proved such a success that the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) hopes that the housewives in Dunedin will help in a similar way. Each householder who can afford it is asked to give one pound of some kind of groceries each week. It would be, a great assistance to the depot if the name of the article were written on the outside of the bag. For the purpose of forming some scheme for collecting the goods, the Mayoress (Mrs R. S. Black) convened a special meeting of representatives of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts for last Monday evening. It was then decided that the whole of the city should be divided into districts, and that committees should be formed in each. It would be their business to find out who would be willing to contribute, and the Guides and Scouts would call for the articles once a week. The goods would be left at special depots in each district, and arrangements would be made for them to be collected. There is very great need for wood and coal, and money is urgently needed to purchase food and to provide fuel for many families who cannot afford firing.

Without Dependents. With Dependents. Auckland .. .. 2744 3460 Wellington .. 1768 2720 Christchurch .. 2884 1854 Dunedin .. 1487 1156 Invercargill 696 310

This Week. Last Week. Auckland . 6204 6198 Wellington . 4488 4366 Christchurch . 4738 4903 Dunedin . 2643 2681 Invercargill . 1006 992