NAPIER'S UMEMPLOYED

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 101, 31 May 1930, Page 5

NAPIER'S UMEMPLOYED

GATHERING HELD TO-DAY. ELEVEN TO BE PLACED IN WORK SOUP KITCHEN PROPOSED. There was an atteiidance of over 30 unemployed at a meeting held at the Napier Trades Hall this morning, presided over 'by Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., when eleven men were appointed to take. up work provided by the Napier Harbour Board at the scene of the recent Bluff Hill slip, their work to commence on Monday. In explaining the position, Mr Barnard stated that he was sorry to say that tlie committee was only able to place 11 men immediately, and the choice of these men had heen extremely difficult. The only fair way to do the thing was by ballot, after the choice had been fined dowu to men with dependents, who had lived in Napiei- for some time and who had had their names on the list for a considerable period. This work was not permanent, but would help to relieve the position meanwhile. The Harbour Board intended to spend £200, to which the Napier Unemployment Committee had decided to subsidise to the extent of £100. The Government had been approached for a suhsidy of £300 in an effort to bring the total to £600. The Government's reply had not yet heen received. In the near future, liowever, there were other local works which would be commenced, among these heing the excavation of the Girls' High _ School ground, the work on the Marine Parade and reclamation at Parke Island. In connection with the last-named work, Mr Barnard paid a tribute to Mr C. O. Morse, of the Hospital Board. He expected that this work would be commenced in a month. He was also pleased to note that Mr H. Hdl had suggested the transfer of the £150 sumlus from the infiuenza

fund to the unemployment committee. There had 'been a lot of talk, said Mr Barnard. tbat the work of the unemployed when put on labour jobs was not satisfactory. The whole trouble was that no supervision had been provided. One might as well ask a lot of men who had never played crioket before to win a cricket match. without even a captain to lead them. SOUP KITCHEN. Continuing, Mr Barnard said that he had heen approached by the Rev. Brierley. of Port Ahuriri, as to the advisability or otherwise of starting a soup kitehen in Napier and on this matter he wanted the opinion of the meeting. Some discussion ensued, and the general opinion expressed was that the necessities of the unemployed could be given out to them in a less public fashion thqn througli a soup kitehen. Mr Barnard said he would speak to the Rev. Brierley about the matter. Anothe,r matter that would, he hoped, help to relieve the position was the further plaeing of men on the public works. In this connection a member of the audience complained that swaggers were heing taken on the works hy the engineers without being registered at the bureau. Mr Barnard proraised to go into the matter, stating that such ivas completely against the orders issued by the Public Works Department. GREAT FORTITUDE. * In conclnsion, Mr Barnard referred to the approaching session of Parliament, and stated that one of the first matters that would he brought up was the question of unemployment. The Government had to deal satisfactorily with the position to maintain the support of the Labour Party. He expressed admiration at the fortitude and patience of the Napier unemployed, and assured them that the Napier committee was doing, and would continue to do, all possible for tlieir relief. There are approximately 130 unemployed in Napier alone at the present time.