Flowers Bring in £l50 for Unemployed

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 12

Flowers Bring in £lso for Unemployed

PERMANENT RELIEF SCHEME BEING CONSIDERED VLOWER DAY, carried on yeaterday by the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, and a large band of workers, raised £l5O toward the £5,000 aimed at in the fourday drive for the unemployed fund. Collectors did not get the results they had hoped for, but they got a few surprises. One case is reported where a man asked: “How much?” A silver coin was suggested, but the collector saw a £5 jiote pushed into the box. A woman who was expected to pass by or to give a shilling pushed a note through the hole in the collection box. The appeal for flowers and plants proved successful, and a big quantity was delivered at the Civic Square. The suburban collection was entered on by a regular army of women helpers this morning, assisted by car-owners of the Auckland Automobile Club. This section of the collection was practically finished at noon, and the helpers at the Town Hall are this afternoon engaged on totalling up. Owing to the city collection not having been completed, the canvassing of a few of the blocks will be completed on Alonday.

PERMANENT - RELIEF OTHER BODIES MOVE Other bodies are now taking up the question of unemployed, with the idea of overcoming the regrettable yearly appeal for funds to relieve the thousands who fall on systems of relief that are only little removed from outright charity. The Civic League is investigating a land-settlement scheme, and is calling a conference to discuss an organisation that has already been arranged in outline. Mr. Sainsbury, editor of the “New Zealand Small-holder,” has elaborated a scheme suggested by the league and a conference will discuss this. The scheme makes provision for the setting up of an Auckland committee of eight, including representatives of women, labour, Salvation Army, charitable organisations, Labour Department and practica.l small holders. EQUIPMENT TO COST £SOO The necessities are an endowment from local bodies and the State, a large block of land, pumice land being suggested, and equipment. Given these the suggestion is that the block should be divided into 20-acre sections or farmlets, equipped with the barest necessities, each costing £SOO, including a cottage, fowl-runs, planting, fencing and stocking. The estimate is that fowls would produce £125 a year, fruit and flowers £llO, and pigs £4O. Firewood grows readily on pumice land, against which prejudice is the main objection. It is proposed that the holders should buy on amortisation terms at 10 per cent, so that the farms would become the unencumbered property of the holders in 15 years, it being estimated that a considerable bank balance could also be acquired in the same period. Provision for supervision by blockmanagers, to give advice and assist, is made INSURANCE PROPOSAL The Council of Christian Congregations has been investigating the unemployment question, together with the English system of insurance against unemployment contributed to by the workers, the employer, and the State. It was finally decided to set up a small sub-committee to confer with representatives of the Rotary Club, the Trades Hall, the Employers’ Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. The council met last evening at the Chamber of Commerce. The English system was outlined, and a discussion fallowed. FURTHER INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT Figures supplied by the Labour Bureau this morning show a further slight increase in unemployment. The total of men out of work is 566, compared with 552 for the previous week. Alen classed as fit for heavy work number 465 and those suitable for only light work total 101. Last week’s figures were 456 and 96 respectively. A total of 126 men were placed in employment during the week, compared with 103 for the week ending November 5.