Relief Works, Woodhill.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 201, 27 August 1886, Page 4

Relief Works, Woodhill.

(To the Fditor.)

Sir, -We should like to make publicly known, through the agency of your valu able paper, the manner in which we (the unemployed) are treated at Woodhill. Our w-rk consUt? in cutting a channel to divert the course of a liver, to accomplish which object we have to work in water and mud to a depth ranging from two to fivo feet. We are of opinion that the influx of water could have been avoided had proper precautions been taken in the way of dams, etc., at tho commencement of the work. Now, sir, I ask you do you think it is just to compel men to work in this water S hours every day, whilst a few favoured ones are allowed to work constantly in dry places, the younger and abler ones seeming to constitute tho latter, whilst tbe elder and more infirm ones are compelled to work in tho water, many of them having adopted the proper course and refused to do so, in consequence of which they are running into debt, and will continue to do so until the channel is finished, which, by the way it is progressing at pre-ent, will probably be some considerable timo. It has beon proposed by tho workmen to divide in two gangs, and each gang lo work in the water on alternate days, but this proposition ha 3 been totally ignored AX we a.'k for is wcrk within the limits of

common sense, or a free passage back to Auckland, to give us an opportunity of doing something for our wives and families. Hopinu wo have not eucioached upon the columns of your paper, we bet' to remain,

Yours etc, Tnr. Unemployed at Wool hill