CITIZENS ASKED TO HELP UNEMPLOYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 494, 25 October 1928, Page 15

CITIZENS ASKED TO HELP UNEMPLOYED

APPEAL FOR CASUAL WORK LOCAL BODY CO-OPERATION A general appeal to citizens of Auckland and all the surrounding districts is about to be made in an effort to give at least some temporary relief to the unemployed position. This morning the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. H. T. Merritt, and Messrs. M. Stewart, M. H. Wynyard and W. A. Phillips, conferred with the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, on a proposition to institute a “clean-up” week, and the Mayor undertook to make a general appeal on the proposal. The idea behind the scheme is not that Auckland requires a special effort in the way of a “clean-up,” but that a great number of citizens instead of giving money gratuitously might be able to find a few days’ work in their gardens preparing for the summer, or in minor renovations either in their private or business premises, which would in some measure assist to give the unemployed a little money before Christmas. If the majority of householders in Auckland could provide two or three days’ work then the 1,000 unemployed in the city could be earning something for several weeks while other and larger works were being prepared. The deputation from the Chamber of Commerce was the result of a deputation from the Labour Unemployed Committee waiting on tjie chamber, and the Mayor expressed his sympathy with the aims pf the deputation. In addition the chamber intends to ask all the local bodies to make similar appeals to tlieir citizens, and to request that all work offered should be offered through the Labour Department. All committees working on the object will be requested to see that the names of all genuine unemployed are forwarded to the Labour Department. “Regarding work of a greater extent the Highways Board is only too anxious to put on as many men as possible,” stated Mr. Merritt, “and we are making a special appeal to all local bodies concerned to complete their negotiations with the board so that the works can be put in hand. We intend also to approach any bodies that wo think might give assistance, such as the manufacturers’ and employers’ associations, the Rotary Club and any others.”