View report page

17
Board. We find that the employment given by this Board consists
of Paving and Road-making, Sewer-making and Cleansing,
Scavenging and Dust-collecting, and the extra work entailed by a
fall of Snow. The first two of these items are performed by men
employed regularly by this Board, but who, we greatly regret to
find, are out of work at the present time, owing to the prolonged
frost, although their labours are much required. The Scavenging
and Dust-collecting is also done by men regularly employed, and,
therefore, there remains only the extra work of clearing away snow,
which can be given to persons other than those constantly in our
employ, and it is found that immediately following a fall of snow
more men apply for work than can be usefully employed ; and
even if a register were kept, there would be no time to summon
those registered, as, if a snowstorm occurs during the night, the
men begin clearing away at three o'clock the following morning.
"We also learn from employers in the district that such a
register would be useless to them, and workmen who apply at the
offices of the Board have stated that their names have been
entered on many such registers without any useful result.
"While, therefore, we have the fullest sympathy with every
effort to relieve the present distress, and would be prepared to
spare no pains to assist in that direction, we are decidedly of
opinion that not only would no relief result from opening such a
register, but it would only add another disappointment to the
sufferings which too many of our fellow parishioners unfortunately
have to bear.
"2. We have had before us the Circular received from the Local
Government Board, dated February 11th, 1895, on the subject of
the Unemployed, which appears to be a repetition of those
received on previous occasions.
"In that Circular it is suggested that this Board should assist
the Unemployed by providing—
" '1. Work which will not involve the stigma of pauperism.
" '2. Work which all can perform whatever may have been
their previous avocations.
" '3. Work which does not compete with that of other
labourers at present in employment.'
"And further sets forth that—
" 'These works may be of the following kinds among others.
" 'Cleansing of streets not usually undertaken by local
authorities,
C1