City Finds Work for Unemployed

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 158, 24 September 1927, Page 9

City Finds Work for Unemployed

COLLECTION OF FUNDS STRONG COMMITTEE FORMED At the invitation of the Mayo\ Mr. G. Baildon, a body of prominent citizens, together with the chairmen of the several sub-coin-mittees of the City Council, formed a committee yesterday afternoon to collect and administer funds for unemployment relief. It was decided to provide immediate work for about 60 men on a relief scheme at Epsom. “The City Council has done a fair amount to relieve the position.” said the Mayor The sum of £7 600 is being expended on the lay-out of the Museum grounds, and the council is subsidising work at Point Chevalier.” The Mayor’s fund now totalled £721 and £I,OOO was in sight. It was intended that all money received should be expended entirely in paying: for labour, and not in charitable relief. The rates would be 9s a day for single men and 12s for married workers. Immediate Start “We can get to work immediately," declared Mr. Baildon. “There is no reason why we cannot put men on next Monday.” It was proposed to start by placing between 50 and 60 men on labouring work to form a playing ground at Epsom on a site now lving in waste under the old Mount Eden Mill. A Government £1 for £1 subsidy was assured on all funds collected under the scheme. 500 Men Idle Mr. E. J. Phelan pointed out that work must be found for between 200 and 500 men. He suggested it might be necessary for the unemployed to work week about. Mr. H. Horton suggested the terracing of the waste domain land oetween the hospital and bowling green for sports purposes. The Mayor promised to give the proposal his consideration. Request For Representation Mr. Baildon read a letter from the Auckland Unemployed Association requesting representation on the committee. “Our object is to cause the decease of that association.” said Mr. Baildon. It was decided to take no action in the matter. Local Men First Miss E. Melville said it should be made clear that relief could be given only to local unemployed, married men to have preference. Personnel of Committee The following committee was set up: The Mayor. Miss E. Melville, Messrs. J. A. C. Allum, F. W. Brinsden, J. Dempsey, A. J. Entrican, J. B. Paterson, E. J. Phelan, J. Davis (members of the City Council), A. S. Bankart, A. Court, H. Frost. W. J. Holdsworth. H. Horton, A. G. Lunn, R. B. Lusk. IT. R. Mackenzie, L. Marks, O. Nicholson. A. Spencer and G. H. Wilson. A proposal by Mr. A. J. Entrican that the churches should be asked to undertake special collections for unemployed relief on October 23, was referred to the finance sub-committee. The town clerk, Mr. J. o. Brigham, was appointed secretary and treasurer of the committee. A splendid lead has been given by the inside staff of the City Council, which has agreed to a 3 per Cc.nt. levy on salaries for the next three months. In this way £155 a month will be added to the Mayor’s Fund. FUND MOUNTS RAPIDLY ANSWER TO MAYOR’S APPEAL The total of the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund has soared in the course of a very few days to £852 4s d. Receipts up to yesterday were:

at the meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment. Committee yesterday that Wellington had raised a fund of £B,OOO. Auckland, he said, should aim at raising an amount at least as great. FOR EX-SOLDIERS FLAG DAY COLLECTION A flag day at Devonport yesterday realised £IOO for the unemployed exservice men in the borough. The effort, which was organised by the recently inaugurated Ex-Service-men’s Club, was aided by women of the Devonport branch of the Navy League and the Devonport Boys' Brass Band. RELIEVING DISTRESS FOOD AND CLOTHES GIVEN Since THE SUN published an article describing the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour’s three days spent as one of the unemployed, and its subsequent article of a tour of some of the destitute homes of Auckland, considerable interest has been aroused regarding distress in Auckland. A definite attempt is now being made to alleviate some of the distress and want in the homes of families, where the breadv.'inners are out of work and have been for some time. Mr. Scrimgeour, whose headquarters are at the Methodist Central Mission, in Airedale Street, has received many offers of help since the articles were published. Food and clothes and money have been given freely, and work has been found for some of the men. The Mission has been able to assist many of those who are in want. Though it is not able to eliminate the distress, it is able to relieve the fear of hunger.

Previously acknowledged . £ 7 Bank of New Zealand H.M Auckland Society of Ashley’s, Ltd 5 0 0 N.A.C. . 5 0 o Wm. Wallace .. .. 0 0 Mrs E. E. Bonet .. 2 2 0 Total 85i4 6 It was stated by Mr. A. S. Bankart