“PATCHWORK METHODS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 9

“PATCHWORK METHODS”

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF DOMINION CONFERENCE SUGGESTED (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. At least 500 men are out of work in Christchurch. One hundred and seventy were paid off by the Citizens* Unemployment Committee this afternoon, and unless more money is forthcoming it will not be possible to engage more men on relief works. Mr. A. E. Drayton, chairman o! thv Finance Committee, told a SUN r* porter to-day that every effort is bein*. made to ensure the success of tht second appeal to the public. The Christchurch City Council has agreed to subsidise contributions up t% £SOO. The unemployment position it Christchurch is serious, far more st than at any other time. Business w;u certainly brighter this year, but commercial depression is still being felt by employers, and many firms have fount it necessary to put off men. The City Council agreed to advance the money with which to pay the men who were to come off to-day, this te be refunded when more money is available. There was also a sum of a bon* £ 290 which had been promised l>v various organisations for subsidies. Mr. W. E. Leadley. another memb«— of the committee, is opposed to th* second public appeal. Ho does no think the response will be adequ; to u meet the situation. The only way, he said, to soive the unemployment problem is for the Government to convene a Dominion conference of men intimately connected with unemployment and Government heads of departments.. If this were done, some permanent scheme could be adopted, and the problem solved for all time. The present measures for the relief of unemployment. Mr. Leadley described as “patchwork methods.” The Government unemployment officer, Mr. E. G. Queree. reported that 30 men had been sent to Government relief works this week, and that a further batch would be selected for nex week. Although there were 30 men outsidr the Government Labour Department’s bureau this morning, there were only nine new registrations, of which sever, came from mrrried men.

CLASH WITH MAYOR

OBJECTION TO HEAD OF DEPUTATION Press AaaockitioH. CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. A clash occurred at the City Council Chambers this morning between Mr. H. Dunkley, who headed a deputation of unemployed, and the Mayor, the Rev. J. K Archer. After Mr. Dunkley had spoken. Mayor, addressing the unemplovi whom there were about 20 pre issued a final warning that he v ; refuse to receive any more deputaii jzi'i headed by Mr. Dunkley. He said that the unemployed could not possibly put up a man more likelv to damage their cause than Mr. Dunkley.