UNEMPLOYED DESPERATE.

Shannon News, 10 July 1928, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED DESPERATE.

DEPUTATION MEETS MR LINKLATER. VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS ROE RELIEF. Last Week at a meeting of local uuemloy.ed' it" was decided to ask the member for the district, Mr J. Linklater, M.P., to visit Shannon to discuss the situation with a view to finding employment. Yesterday morning Mr Linklater visited Shannon when a deputation consisting of Messrs/ R. Downes, D. Wouldes, T. Veale, F. Wlubley, L. Richardson and E. Porter, as representatives of those out of employment, met him at the Council Chambers. The Mayor, in introducing the deputation to Mr Linklater, said that no doubt he would know from the correspondence they had had with him on this matter, that unemployment was in a pretty bad way in Shannon. They had 106 names on the list, which was over ten per cent of the population. The unemployed thought that if they could meet him and discuss suggestions; he might be able to help them. Mr Downes, who was chief spokesman, said that the Mayor had outlined the. position fairly well. At present those unemployed had no ‘ prospects ahead, and the position had now' become desperate. - The men were not looking for charitable aid; it was work they wanted. Some of them had been out of employment for the past four months. In three cases he knew' of men who had bought homes in the good times, had lost them through not being able to keep up their payments. Some of the men w’ere getting desperate through having to see their families go hungry; and they Avould have to get relief of some sort. He impressed upon Mr Linklater that the average man did not want charity and it was a knock-back to some to mention it. It w'as work they w'anted. Mr Linlslater said he regretted the occasion that has arisen.. The position, he said, w r as a good deal the same in other parts of New' Zealand, but in Shannon’s case the unfortunate position had been affected by the closing of the flaxmilis. Mr Downes: The mills would only absorb one-third of the unemployed. Continuing, Mr Linklater said lie- had been successful in getting the Buckley Drainage Board’s loan of,£looo and the Government subsidy of £750, which w'olud give employment for about twenty men; and he had waited ■-•■on the Public Works Engineer to see if some of the men could be absorbed on the wtfrk of metalling the deviation to the new r bridge. ,

In respect'-to the latter Mr Linklater was informed that only four men would be employed. Mr Richardson suggested that if the work- oil, the, Ihakdra Hill in connection w*ith the Main.Highway.scheme w r as put in hand at once, this would considerably relieve the position. Also the work, on the Makerua hill. Mr Linklater stated that he had interviewed Mr Seifert in reference to opening the flaxinills, the latter informing him that the mills eahnot carry-on under the present cost of production with hemp at £26 per ton and with a further increase' in freight at the end of the month of 15s per ton, Mr Seifert said the mills would start at any time if the men would accept 14s per day and a reduction of 10 per cent on contract rates. But they would not carryon under the present rates.

Mr Downes: The millers’ want the employees to break the Arbitration Court’s award. If they break the award it will be a precedent. The award will expire in twelve mouths. Mr Linklater: Ailyhow they say they are quite willing to meet the employees in conference. Mr Porter: The miller’s (Statement as made to Mr Linklater is not what they put to the men. They asked the men to accept 13s 6d per day -and reductions from 25 per cent down on contract rates.

Mr Linklater was asked by one of the deputation if lie could give them any idea as to the. position of the Horowhenua County Council with the Main Highway Board. The speaker said he understood the former had no money. If ko, it did not look much like getting mohey for work on the Ihakara hill. This would be a big job and would help considerably to relieve unemployment.

Mr Downes addressing Mr Linklater: “You say Mr Seifert is prepared to meet the - flaxinillers any time?” Speaking' as one of the unemployed he asked, “Would the millers be, prepared to hold a conference comprised of’three millers representatives and three Union > officialswith an independent chairman and table their books.” If they will and it is shown that the industry does not warrant the present wage be--1 ing paid, I am prepared as one of the unemployed to advise the men to accept the millers-’ offer.” Mr Linklater : That, is a reasonable proposition. '* Mr Wouldes pointed out that flaxmilling work was a seasonal occupation. As one of the best cutters could only average £3 15s per week per year, with rent to pay and a family to keep, on the face of it he could not see how they could come down. In referring to linking up the Buckley road with Kopuataroa he understood people at the Levin end were opposed to it. The Mayor said the Borough Council on several occasions had waited on the Horowhenua County Council on this matter, but the proposal hud been turned down as too expensive, Mr Downes: We want .something immediately. The Ihakara MU work is what they should concentrate on, A survey has been carried out. and the work could be commenced Immediately. In conclusion Mr Linklater. premised to do., all he could to ensure the suggestions made bringing relief and he would communicate with them in I the course of a day or two. Mr Downes thanked Mr Linklater for

meeting them and expressed the hope that some- good would result from' the meeting. Mr Linklater, in returning thanks, said that the Government had already placed 3500 men on relief works in different parts of the Dominion. T* l6 unemployed problem, he said, was in existence throughout the world. He quoted figures showing the average per population as follows:—Un.ited States 1 to every 75 persons, England 1 to 38, Australia 1 to 100, New Zealand 1 to 440. In conclusion he said the Gov-, ornmeut of New Zealand were doing all they possibly could to solve the problem.