UNEMPLOYMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1922, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

WORKERS’ COUNCIL'S OFFER. ACCEPTED BY THE COMMITTEE. AWARD RATES TO BE PAID. As the result of a conference last night of representatives of the New Plymouth Unemployment Committee and delegat is from the Taranaki Workers’ Council, the offer of the latter body to subsidise the general funds so that the full award wage of 14/8 a day per man could be paid to those men engaged in relief work, instead of 12/- as at present, was accepted. The Taranaki Workers’ Council were also granted three official representatives on the Unemployment Committee, and these will be appointed at a meeting of the council to be held to-night. Last night’s meeting was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson). Mr. G. I. Blacker (chairman of the Workers’ Council), in outlining the views of the council, said they were not antagonistic to the relief committee, but sympathetic. The council was out to help as many as possible who were in need, but had a principle to uphold. In order that the full award wage could be paid to those working under the committee’s scheme, all the unionists of the town had been asked to subscribe 3 per cent, of their wages weekly to the fund. All those present at the previous night’s meeting had signed an agreement to do so, while more signatures had been obtained that day. The amount raised by this and other methods to help the funds was uncertain, but the amount raised through the council was certain f > be more than sufficient to pay the difference between 12/- and 14/8 (the award wage). If the committee accepted the council’s offer of help to pay this difference, then it was asked that the committee should give the council official representation on the committee, three being the number of representatives asked for. The Mayor asked why the council did not undertake to distribute themselves the amount they raised. Mr. Blacker replied that this could.be done, but it was thought better to pay the whole out of the one fund. Mr. W. H. Skinner said he did not object to the council’s offer, which was a good idea, but z was the extra 2/8 to be paid out to unionists only ? If so, it would be better for the council to pay out this money themselves, or else there would be trouble, as some of the men on relief work were not unionists. Mr. Blacker said the idea of gyving preference to unionists had been mdoted, but had been “knocked on the head.” The idea was that all the men should be paid the full award wage. The council could subscribe at least £4O, possibly more, towards this object.

THE MAYOR SPEAKS OUT. The Mayor pointed out that paying 40 men 2/8 extra for six days meant that £32 was required. Personally he had ao objection to receive the subsidy, or whatever name it might be called, but it was necessary for the money to be in hand when the men were paid each Tuesday. The Mayor went on to say that hostile feeling had been created, rightly or wrongly, in the town, and subscriptions to the fund and offers of help had absolutely stopped since the publication of the resolu--1 tion passed at Saturday night’s meeting of the council. If things did not improve the relief work would have to stop next week for lack of funds. Addressing himself to Mr. Blacker, the Mayor said that he, as chairman of the meeting at which the resolution was passed, should , not al low wrong statements to go uncontradicted, as these were causing the feeling that the council was not as genuine as it appeared. The resolution referred to repudiated that the council had any official representation ’ on the committee,, when the council knew perfectly well that such representation was never asked for. This was only drawing b red-herring across the scent. Then, at a meeting of unionists the previous night, a resolution had been passed commending the Harbor Board as being alone amongst bodies paying award rates, when the mover of the resolution (Mr. F. J. Lyons) should know that the harbor works were in no sense relief work, but part of a compre- ' hensive scheme of improvements. The passing of such a resolution was causing harm. The Unemployment Committee had undertaken their work at the request of a meeting of citizens which the council did not attend. However, he was glad to accept the council's offer of financial assistance, and, as far as he was concerned, the council was welcome to representation on the committee, which, he pointed out, was at the present practically at the end of its tether. Mr. Wilson made an appeal that the question should be treated, not as a party one, but as one of humanity. It was not a question of paying award wages, but of giving help to those in distress. The council should put its foot down on party statements. Referring to the official representation question, Mr. Blacker claimed that the whole trouble had arisen through the newspapers, whom he alleged had given out the idea that Mr. Brabyn represented the Taranaki Workers’ Council on the committee. He made it clear that hia council were actuated not by party, but by humanitarian motives.

MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. Mr. Clarke suggested that the committee and council should get together to help to make up the leeway caused by the stoppage of help and subscriptions by reason of the council’s resolution, which, he agreed, should have been “scotched.” The council, he said, were upholding a principle which, as wage-earners, they could not sacrifice, and labor had to keep its end I up in the haggling between buyer and i seller over labor, which was a marketable ' commodity. He did not suggest that the committee had any object in not paying the award rates, but he hoped the council’s assistance, which would enable the full rate to be paid, would be accepted. He sympathised with the committee’s effort to make the money go as far as posj sible, but thought it better that the full award rates should be paid, even if the men could not be employed so long. The council wanted to work in with the committee, aind deprecated any two antagonistic factors being at work when those in need required help. It was not a matter of unionism or non-unionism, but one of humanity. It did not matter what a man did in 1913 —wives and children could not help their breadwinners’ political attitude. All should be helped indiscriminately, though the unionists hoped that, by helping non-unionists, these latter would be induced to join unions. The speaker pleaded that prejudice should not enter into their minds. The union stood for the award principle and hoped that by their financial assistance this would be achieved. The award rate itself was, he considered, quite little enough, and better service . would bo ngdsod ig thoio ia aoo4 it sbo

full rate were paid. “Meet us half vray to help these unfortunate people,” concluded the speaker. REMARKS ABOUT SOLDIERS. Approval of Mr. Cbrke’s suggestion of subsidisation was expressed by Mr. A. M. Mac Diarmid, but he took exception to the statement made the previous night, that “the returned soldier stunt was worked out.” Those who took part in the war were, he thought, the first who should say if this was so. He expressed a hope that the council should be represented on the Unemployment Committee. Mr. G. E. Roper believed that both bodies should work together with the one aim of relieving suffering humanity. With reference to the statement made about returned soldiers, he pointed out that they were men who had worked'for their country at the lowest possible rate of pay. Preference for returned men, in the matter .of employment or anything else had never been asked for, and what the country had done for the returned man had been done voluntarily. Thirty ex-soldiers had asked him at the club that day to express disapproval of Mr. Blacker’s statement that “the returned soldier stunt was wotted out.” The leeway caused by the counoTs statements would be hard to pick up, and the committee’s work was as a consequence being made harder. He deprecated toe suggestion that the scheme to give employment to those out of work was a charitable institution. If united action was not taken now the funds would' run out, and it was in the interest of every one concerned to see that this did not happen. The men seemed quite content to accept 12/- a day, and this also gave them an incentive to seek other work at a higher rate of pay. Mr. Roper hoped the committee would have the help and sympathy of the Workers’ Council, and he at the same time hoped returned soldiers would not be spoken of in derogatory terms, as he reminded the council that some of their; best unionists were returned men.

DECISION REACHED. Mr. Skinner then moved that the Taranaki Workers’ Council be given three representatives on the general Unemployment Committee. Mr. Graham seconded and the motion was carried. The Mayor then moved that, while the committee was bound by its pledges to the public to pay 12/- a day out of the funds subscribed, it gladly accepted the Taranaki Workers’ Council’s offer of a subsidy so that M/8 a day could be paid to all workers. Mr. Skinner seconded. Mr. Blacker intimated that the council hoped to subsidise the fund to enable to* full wage to be paid and, at toe same time, help the general fund. He thought there was no doubt but that the requisite money would be obtained. Mr. Skinner drew attention to the fact that the main fund would be pThanrtcd in two weeks, whilst there would be no big additions to the fund for probably thfry* weeks, when the Pierrots and other helpers had raised their funds. The Mayor said the Borough CounJl was prepared to advance money on contributions likely to be received, so that the work need not be hindered for a wook because funds had run out. The motion was then carried, after which the Mayor thanked the council’s delegates for putting the matter in a reasonable light.

THE PIERROTS’ EFFORT. A GRATIFYING RESPONSE. The Pierrots, represented by Messrs. H. Brookman and P. J. Flannagan, made £ successful raid yesterday on business premises in the eastern end of the town, and jjMr. Brookman reported at last night’s conference that not one refusal had been met with. Contributions made include both a considerable list of cash donations and gifts of goods. Amongst the contributions were a suite of furniture, valued at £5O, by Messrs. Purser’s, Ltd.; an oak table, valued at £lO 10s, by Boon Bros., Ltd.; a motor tyre, valued at £lO 10s, by toe Phoenix Motors, Ltd., and a Ford tyre, valued at £B, by Derby and Co. Mr. Brookman intimated that the Pierrots intended running an art union in connection with their week’s effort, which would commence on July 31, and Messrs. Purser’s, Ltd.’s handsome donation would be the first prize, whilst other prizes have been promised. A permit for the art union has already been obtained. To-day Messrs. Brookman and F. H. Robertson will solicit help from staffs in offices. Messrs. R. Mcßae, N. Hill and W. Honey field report that the response to the appeal in the country districts has proved a great success. The Taranaki Agencies, Ltd., is the receiving depot for all gif to.

Mr. Brookman told last night’s meeting that the Pierrots hoped to raise £lOOO for the fund. A telegram was received yesterday by the Mayor from the Minister of Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes), as follows: “Further to your telegram of yesterday re use of drill hall for carnival: I approve of hall being used on conditions named in your telegram, but it is to be clearly understood that this concession is granted only in view of the fact that the proceeds are in aid of unemployment relief and must not be taken as a precedent for granting the hall for other purposes bn similar terms.” Gratification was expressed that the Coronation Hall could be secured for the occasion, Mr. Brookman saying this would relieve the Pierrots and the ladies’ committee assisting them of a grwt deal of responsibility.