THE UNEMPLOYED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2551, 12 July 1909, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED.

QUESTION DISCUSSED BY TRADES COUNCIL.

BOROUGH COUNCIL ASKED TO TAKE ACTION /The monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Saturday evening in Townley’s Hall. Mr. T. Jackson occupied the chair. Arising out of correspondence was a letter from the New Zealand trades Council’s Executive, stating that the majority of replies received from the various Councils favored postponing the annual conference until Parliament again meets. Owing to the postponement of The conference, the Executive requested the Council to forward gome scheme which it considered would alleviate the misery and sufferings caused by the acute, depression. In the discussion, one delegate stated that not only should some method be considered to alleviate the unemployed, but some scheme should bo adopted to prevent such a .recurrence, and he thought that by opening up lands and by also placing a heavier rate on unimproved lands such would be effective. Jt was resolved that the matter be left over for further consideration. _ Mr. M. G. Nasmith, junr., moved: “That this Council protests against the establishment of a soup kitchen in Gisborne, as such an institution is not a necessity locally, wbile admitting a great depression in the employment market. To alleviate the depression, this Council respectfully asks the Borough Council to open a Citizens’ Unemployment Relief Fund, to provide work for the local unemployed, and to ask the Government for £ for £ subsidy on the amount collected.” In moving the motion, Mr. Nasmith said that the establishment of a soup kitchen in Gisborne was unnecessary at present, and was an undeserved stigma on tlie district. He had learned that not one applicant had applied to the soup kitchen for relief during the day, which showed that there was not a case of starvation in the town. Besides, if there was a case of starvation in the towui, u'ould a working man accept charity. The object of the kitchen might be good, hut its establishment in Gisborne was unwise. Men wanted work, not charity. The speaker pointed out that the unemployed question v r as not as severe ih Gisborne as in the large centres, arid if a soup kitchen was not necessary in Wellington, It was not necessary in Gisborne. He Tield that the position was not as acute here as some people tried to make out, though he diet not deny the position v. as grave and called for some remedy. He had obtained information from the Labor Bureau, per favor of Mr. Carmody, ■which showed that during the last two months 32 married men had been sent by the bureau to Government works and 18 single and married men to private employment—a total of 50 for the two months. Taking the last three months, a total of 84 men had been placed in work, one-third of whom -were ■absolutely local men. This, Mr. Nasmith urged, showed that the bureau was doing its best to cope with the difficulty. He had also ascertained by the unemployment beaks of the unions that on the Ist of July not one painter was unemployed, while since that date seven were registered as unemployed, and were still out of work. The carpenters also showed five unemployed, but- as the union struck all off the books every Saturday and required all unemployed to register afresh, it was impossible to arrive at the exact figures, but twelve might roughly be taken as the number. The inspector had informed him that on Saturday it took him half the day to get five men he required for a bushfelling contract. Tills, the speaker urged, showed that while there were a great number of unemployed, it did not show any necessity for a soup kitchen. He urged that the Borough Council should be approached, and asked to relieve the difficulty. That- body had no funds at its disposal, and lie thought the suggested .means of raising funds as proposed by the motion would settle the difficulty. Mr. Mullane seconded tlie motion. As an amendment Mr. J. H. Hall moved: “That this Council strongly urges the Municipal Council to do its utmost to alleviate the distress of the unemployed in the district.” In moving the amendment, Mr. Hall considered it was wisest to leave the soup kitchen alone. Tlie fact of no one having taken advantage of the kitchen showed that the workers did not want charity. He was against the motion, as it savoured of charity—asking the Borough Council to collect funds to relieve tlie unemployed. He thought it better to approach the Borough Council, and leave it to that body to devise some scheme to find employment for the workless. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Gratton. Mr. Spurdle considered the establishment of a soup kitchen unnecessary. Mr. Harding saw good in both propositions. While not altogether approving of the soup kitchen, he considered its establishment would open tlie eyes of the Gisborne public to the grave position of the. unemployed locally. ' . Mr. Nasmith, speaking* to the amendment-. said he saw no good in it. What was the use, he asked, of asking the Borough Council for assistance when they had no money? Why not suggest to the Council a way in which to raise funds to allay the distress? There was no charity in his proposition. The funds may be raised by charitably inclined persons, but when a man worked and was paid liis wages from that fund he was not in receipt of charity—he was working for his living. The amendment was put to the meeting. and carried by a narrow majority. Mr. Nasmith then moved : “That this Council strongly protests against the establishment of a- soup kitchen in Gisborne, as being quite unwarranted.” He considered such an institution attached a stigma to the district. Mr. Nesbitt said he was against the motion. The Salvation Army was to be commended for its action. Adjutant Mellcsham had considered the soup kitchen was needed, and time would show whether circumstances justified its establishment. Mr. Jackson said.lie* did not like soup kitchens, but this was not a soup kitchen in the ordinary sense of the word, for one was expected to pay for what he got, but if a person was penniless be would receive bis portion free. He held that the Salvation Army officers were the chief- persons to whom those in distress applied for relief, and there must have been distress, otherwise the kitchen would not have been, started. He thought jt better that the matter be allowed to ; drop. The proposition failed to .find a seconder, and therefore lapsed. THE GISBORNE SOUP KITCHENONE APPLICANT. The soup kitchen which has been established at Mr. G. Colebrook’.s restaurant by the municipal authorities

and tho Salvation Army in conjunction, was open for tho first time on Saturday Despite the fact that extensive preparations had been made to accommodate a large number, only one man availed himself of the opportunity provided to obtain a cheap meal. THE SITUATION AT NAPIER. (Per Press Association.; NAPIER, July 10. Five married men were sent by the Labor Department to Gisborne railway work's last night. Every effort is being made to cope with actual cases or distress, and the citizens' fund to provide supplies of food is being well supported. The Minister of Public Works wired instructing the lowest tender for painting the Courthouse to be accepted immediately to reduce tho ranks of unemployed painters. A MINISTER MISREPORTED. WELLINGTON, July 11. The telegraphed account of an interview in Auckland represented the Hon. 'J'. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, to have stated, in reference to uncmivoyment, that as increased means become available with improvements in the conditions of the country, the State would of course bo able to extend its functions as an employer. The Minister says this is at variance with what he stated. His meaning, which was then made quite clear, was that with the increased volume of exports and tho corresponding increase in money thereby derived by producers and manufacturers of the country, a fund would be created large enough to provide work for all in the great producing industries of the Dominion. After making the foregoing statement to a “New Zealand Times” reporter, tho Minister added that the State was doing a good deal for the unemployed. Over 9000 people were at present engaged by the Government on public works, but the country must realise that there was a limit to the ability of the State to employ. Asked if more men could not be employed on public works, Mr. Mackenzie said he could not see how tho Government could continue to employ even the present number for the next few years. The Citizens’ Unemployment Relief Fund totals £SOO, making £IOOO with the Government subsidy. THE POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. At the Trades Hall to-day it was reported that there had been few callers. It is stated that so far the applications received for workers would have been made, in the ordinary course of events, to the men themselves. Tlie required work to be done was necessary, and would have been done if there was no unemployed difficulty. The labor would have been procured" in the ordinary way. There had been no work offered of a character out of the ordinary for the purpose of relieving the unemployed. The latest posted list at the City Council offices has had a number of names added to it, bringing tho total up to 49, and out of these 19 have applied for work offered them. W. Minson. who wag chairman of the Canterbury Conciliation Board, and who holds that position till Ills term of office expires, was waited upon re-c-antlv by an unemployed bootmaker, who had had two or Three days’ work from the City Council, but who was found unable to earn tlie full rate or wages, and was asked to get a permit. He applied to Mr. Minson for one, at the same time telling Mr. Minson that he had a wife and five children, all the children being ill with measles. Mr. Minson intended considering the man’s application to-dav. but in the meantime the City Council authorities, on learning of the man’s necessitous condition, have taken him on at the full rate, thus getting over the difficulty created of the man’s inability to get a permit. The Painters’ Union have offered to the City Council a subsidy' of £ for £ up to £52 for painting work put in hand by the Council during the present period of slackness, on condition that tho unemployed be taken on. This subsidy is in addition to the previous subsidy granted by the Union. WORK ON THE MOSGIEL RAILWAY DUPLICATION. DUNEDIN, July 10. The Hon. J. T. Paul and Mr. Arnold, M.P., telegraphed to the Hon. Mr. Millar stating that an unemployed meeting here yesterday _ showed that there prevailed great distress amongst all classes of workers, and urging the Minister to put in hand additional work immediately. Mr. J. F. Arnold has received a reply from the Minister of Labor in connection with the unemployed. _ Air. Millar says he is making enquiries to •see if more men can -be put on the Mosgiel railway duplication works, but he can only go as far as the conditions w*ill permit. If- extra men are put on, it would only be with the object of getting over the next six or seven weeks. The railway deviation work is not likely to be ready in time to be of any use to tlie present unemployed,