UNEMPLOYMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1922, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT.

SCHEME FOR RELIEF WORK. VARIOUS JOBS IN BOROUGH. START TO BE MADE TO-DAY. . A meeting of ladies was held yesterday afternoon, at the instance of the Mayoress (Mrs. F. ,E. Wilson), to consider what steps should be taken towards affording relief to those suffering because of unemployment. There was an attendance of seven peen. The Mayor explained the position, saying that it was not thought advisable to set up a ladies’ committee till the ladies’ consent had been obtained. Mr. Wilson said that, besides cash donations, he had received offers in kind, including 100 loaves of bread and vegetables. Clothing also might be useful. The idea was to ask the ladies to undertake to inquire into the genuineness of all applications for assistance, and perhaps help in distribution. Their activities should be rest/ricted to cases arising out of the present unemployment. If a depot could be started in town, farmers and others willing to assist by offers in kind could leave their gifts at this depot on coming to town, and the commitl|ee would see to distribution. Mrs. Wilson said the Piunket Society were willing to do their part. She made an appeal especially for useful clothing. A suggestion was made that the Salvation Army might be able to give information as to the genuineness of the cases which came before the committee. The Mayor made it clear that the men’s committee would deal with necessitous . cases, but wanted the ladies to distribute 1 and to assist in other directions as re- ; quired. Those present gave in their names as ; willing to assist on the lines suggested.

LIST OF RELIEF WORKS. A meeting of the committee set up by Thursday night’s meeting was held subsequently, the Mayor presiding. The report of the sub-committee (Messrs W. H. Skinner, J. S. Connett and J. Brown, with the borough engineer, Mr. W. H. Cook) was presented by Mr. Skinner as follows:—

The works sub-committee set up by the general committee on the 6th instant, for the purpose of conferring with the borough engineer and formulating a scheme of work, or works, so as to give immediate employment to those more pressing cases reported, met the following morning. Besides Mr. Cook, there were present: Messrs. Roper (representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association) and Brabyn (on behalf of the labour association). A list of works suitable for the employment of the various grades of those seeking employment was submitted by the engineer. AH of these were fully considered, and those selected and now recommended as being most suitable for the purpose are here given in tjheir order of preference:— No. I.—The widening of the road and tram approach to the breakwater, from the Moturoa Hotel to root of breakwater. No. 2/ —Extension of southern end of Western Park athletic ground, spoil to be used for borough stjreet improvements. : On both Nos. 1 and 2 a considerable ; number of men could be employed on a straightforward work of permanent benefit to the borough at large. No. 3.—The filling-in of the unsightly and somewhat dangerous gully on the Gilbert Street crossing of the Pukekura Stream, and along the park frontage to that street. This will be advantageous to both the park and borough. No. 4.—Gorse-grubbing over the abattoir reserve. No. s.—Levelling-off and generally improving the Mount Bryan reServe. No. 6.—Tree-planting at the hydro-elec-tric reserve, Kent Road. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 will enable work of a lighter nature to be given to tlibse returned men, and possibly others. who are not physically fit to undertake the heavier work covering the head of Nos. 1,2 and .?

ENOUGH WORK AVAILABLE. A number of other works, of permanent value to the borough, were brought under your commitjtee’s notice by Mr. Cook, but it is not necessary to consider these at present, as those enumerated, we are afraid, will be more than sufficient to exhaust th<? fund raised by public subscription. With regard to work No. 1, considerable delay is inevitable in starting this work. The approval of both the Harbor Board and the Railway Department must be secured before anything can be done. To deal with the Harbor Board will be a comparatively simple matter, but with regard to nhe railway officials that is quite another proposition. Under these circumstances we advise that negotiations be at once opened with these two bodies for permission to take this work in hand. In the meantime, the works mentioned, with the possible addition of one or more of the other schemes recommended by the engineers, will provide the means for absorbing in a useful and permanent way all the funds that are likely to be ddnated.

In view of the Pukekura Park Board's prompt action in employing extra labor to assist! those seeking work, and their substantial offer to subsidise up to £lOO (pound for pound) any fund donated to them for expenditure within the park, per medium of “unemployed” labor, we are of the opinion that this offer should be met, if possible, by setting aside £lOO for this purpose from the fund now being raised.

It is scarcely necessary to point out that, in view of the fact of the relief funds being limited, the greatest care must be texercised in seeing th all only necessitous cases are dealt with by those responsible for recommending individuals for relief work. Any attempt at abusing the public’s generosity must be firmly dealt with, and on the other hand the money subscribed must be very carefully administered. With regard to this latter, we are of opinion that to make the money serve its most useful purpose, it will probably have to be arranged that work on only three days per week can be given to the many applicants that it is anticipated will apply for employment. We hope, however, that such a limitation will not lie necessary, but it must, nevertheless, lie kept in view. The question of the rate of pay is one for the general committee to decide upon. Also, the shortage of drays and teams for handling the spoil has to be considered, as such shortage will be a serious handicap in carrying out to the fullest extent! and usefulness the scheme of work recommended. Mr. Connett said Dhat he understood that the East End committee were pre-

£5O if subsidised pound for pound from I the funds raised.

On the motion of the Mayor, seconded | by Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., l(he report was : adopted and the sub-committee thanked for the work they had done. ■ Mr. W. A. Cook intimated that, in i response to the advertisement eight dray?, | a spring-cart, and a dray for use in rhe ; Fitzroy district had been offered at various ' rates. Mr. Brabyn said an offer had been made to him of two tip-drays. The Mayor suggested that a sub-'commit tee wait on the Harbor Board in reference to the breakwater work. The other i works suggested had better be left to Mr. Cook. Mr. Connett said a preliminary meeting of town members of the Harbor Board might be arranged before the fuU board meeting. Mr. Cook put forward suggestions as to tjhe men needed in gorse-grubbing and earthwork. He pointed out that in haulage work the number of men was governed by the number of drays. He estimated that a man would average 20 yards a day. Mr. Skinner thought it would be necessary to limit the work to three days a week if t(he number of drays offering governed the number of men who could be taken on. Mr. Graham intimated that the Taranaki Licensed Victuallers’ Association had that day voted £lOO for the unemployment fund. The Mayor gave particulars of the funds in hand, saying that with the Returned Soldiers’ Asosciation and other lists there was about £5OO available. The conduct of the works, as outlined by the sub-committee, was left in the hands of the borough engineer. The sub-committee, at the Mayor’s request, agreed to continue as a reference committee. Dealing with the question of wages and the time to be worked, it was agreed that the sub-committee and engineer should understand that the general committee were behind them, and if full time could not be Offered, then the half-time basis should be given effect to.

QUESTION OF WAGES. 1 Considerable discussion took place on the question of wages. A proposal to pay 9s a day failed to find a seconder. Mr. T. C List agreed that the nature of the pay should not be attractive, but the committee should not go below a certain minimum. He felt that the minimum of, say, . 2s below the current rate of 14s, i.e., 12s, ■ should be paid, and he moved in this di- i rection. The Mayor seconded. Mr. S. 0. Smith, M.P., said that at present local bodies were restricted and could only expend money without authority in exceptional cases, such as fires, earthquake,? and floods. He had asked Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P., to see the minister and suggest that the clause should be amended to include unemployment. Information on this subject should be available early. Mr. Smith had also asked Mr. R. Masters, M..P., to ascertain if the Government contemplated putting any more men on relief works and had received information that 160 extra men were being put on throughout the Dominion, but Mr. Smith thought this number would be considerably increased shortly. He had asked the Minister of Lands to put in hand the work of reading a settlement at. Smart Road. He hoped that this work would be authorised, as it would provide work for a considerable number of men during the winter. The Mayor intimated that he had received the usual’ non-committal reply from the Minister to the committee’s representations, saying that investigations were being made. Mr. Brabyn moved as an amendment that the current award rate be paid. This was seconded. Mr. List thought the public would not subscribe so willingly if the higher rate were paid. The current rate was not being paid in such cases elsewhere in New Zealand. The slightly lower rate would be an incentive to the men to seek work elsewhere.

Mr. Roper intimated that he had been able to place two of tiie men on his list and Mr. Brabyn said he had placed one man who was on the trades and labor list.

The amendment was lost and the motion to pay 12s a day carried. Mr. Brabyn asked when the work could be started, Mr. Cook replying that work would probably be commenced after lunch to-day (Tuesday).

RAISING MORE MONEY. Mr. H. Brookman wanted to know how money was going to be raised in addition to that subscribed. Speaking for the Pierrots, he said they were willing to devote a day or two days assisting to raise money. The Mayor intimated that arrangements were being made to hold a football match at New Plymouth on Wednesday of next week (19th inst.), between the Tukapa and Hawera senior teams, the condition being that Tukapa should play a return match at Hawera later on for the same cause. It was hoped that the match would produce £250 at 2s a head. The Mayor also mentioned that offers in kind, such as bread, vegetables and meat, had been received in addition to cash donations. Messrs. J. Brown and W. H. Skinner and the Mayor were appointed a sub-commit-tee to wait on the Harbor Board at their next meeting in reference to the earthwork at the breakwater. It was made clear at the meeting that relief would be restricted to bona-fide residents of New Plymouth*.

UNEMPLOYMENT FUND. THE MAYOR’S APPEAL. 1 The following amounts have been handed in to the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund, and are acknowledged with thanks:—

Taranaki Licensed Victuallers. £100 0 0 Burgess, Fraser and Co 25 0 ;) Mr. Newton King ....j 25 0 0 Dr. W. R. Wade 10 0 0 Mrs. Home 10 0 0 Mr. W. H. Skinner ,.. 10 0 0 Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Wilson . . 10 0 ft Savage Club (per Mr. J. R. Hill) 7 6 0 Mrs. F. G. Evans 5 0 0 Mr. N. Fulton .j 5 0 0 Mr. A. McHardv 5 0 0 W. and A. Ambury, Ltd. t . .j 5 0 0 Mr. R. C. Hughes .j 5 0 0 Anonymous 5 0 0 Sisters Livesey and Smith . .• • 5 0 0 Mr. J. C. Morey , } 5 0 0 Mr. A. E. Watkins 3 3 0 Miss L. R. Baker and staff.... 3 3 0 Mr. Hedland ,j 10 6 Mrs. Coleman ,. 10 0 Total r . .... £244 12 6