RELIEF WORK

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 11

RELIEF WORK

HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

DEVELOPING QUEEN’S PARK.

The superintendent of reserves (Mr J. A. McPherson) reported to the City Council as follows regarding unemployed relief work for returned soldiers:—

Queen’s Park has been chosen in which to spend the money, since the main Public Gardens of Invercargill are gradually being developed within its environs. The work is by no means maintenance, but purely development work from start to finish. The Returned Soldiers’ Association desires the whole of Poppy Day Funds to be expended entirely on wages alone. The work includes: (a) Necessary drainage to be done, (b) Development of 44 acres (old Alotorists’ Camping Ground) a.s portion of the proposed main Public Gardens. (c) Extension of development works to the south east of band rotunda, (d) Further ornamental borders running east £rotn present Rose Gardens.

Besides the above it is intended to remove 20 large pines and gum trees on the west side of (he Park and plant a belt of poplars inside the existing western shelter belt (a length of 40 chains).' Additional shelter belts and ornamental trees will be planted in various portions of the park. At 14/8 per day the above works will employ 20 men for 7-1 weeks. At 12/- per day the above works will employ 20 men for 9 weeks.

The council, in accordance with the recommendation of the Reserves Committee, decided to approve of the work and ask the Government to subsidize the expenditure as an unemployment work and fixed the wages at 14/8 per day.