LITTLE RELIEF MONEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 666, 18 May 1929, Page 2

LITTLE RELIEF MONEY

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS REPLY TO DEPUTATION Press Association INVERCARGILL, Friday A deputation consisting of Mayor, Mr. J. D. Campbell, and several members of the Borough Council waited upon the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph AA'ard. this morning regarding relief of unemployment here. The Mayor said there were about 240 men registered in Invercargill &s being out of employment. The council experienced difficulty in finding suitable work for the men and it was also hampered by lack of funds. Mr. T. O’Byrne said they wanted the Prime Minister to give £20.000 to help Southland. In reply Sir Joseph AVard said he wanted to put the position very cleariv before the deputation. The proposals put forward would have to be eliminated for various reasons. which he outlined. The Government could not take up works spasmodically for the help of the unemployed, nor could he think there were so many men out of employment as was stated. The Government was perfectly prepared to do its part, but it did not have an unlimited purse, continued Sir Joseph, and when he told them that it had got to within £ 7.000 of th© monev available for unemployment relief throughout the Dominion they would understand that it was impossible to accede to their request for a grant of £20.000. If the Borough Council had any work other than maintenance work for unemployed the Government would be prepared to assist. The Prime Alinister read a statement from the Public AVorks Department that 25 men could be put on work immediately. He also promised to see if there were any other works available.