MEN IN CAMPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

MEN IN CAMPS.

'SACKS FOR BLANKETS'

PUBLIC APPEAL FOR AID.

THAMES-WAIHI DISTRICT.

Failure having attended his representations for the removal of the discrimination in treatment of unemployed in country relief camps, Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.L\ for Thames, to-day issued a public appeal for funds for the purchase of clothing and blankets for men in camps in the Thames and Waihi districts, who, ho states, are without adequate clothing and are using sacks for blankets.

"Not a great deal of money is required to meet the particular cases I have in hand," Mr. Samuel said, "but the matter is one of considerable urgency, as these men are suffering winter conditions intensely, and, I may say, without complaint. Other men are more or less adequately clothed, but these men, as I have already pointed out, find (themselves in a sort of 'no-man's-land.' They are urgently in need of trousers, working shirts, singlets, sox and blankets. They are men drawn mainly from the small districts, where no funds are available to provide this supplementary assistance, and where appeals to the townspeople, who themselves are in indifferent circumstances, would be useless. Thanks to the action of the Smith Family in Wellington, the requirements of the Wellington colony at Whangamata were met, but the other men are still high—but hardly dry! Under the rules of the Auckland Metropolitan Relief Committee, which I have approached, no help can be given from that quarter.

"As all of the men have come from the Auckland provincial district, I am of opinion that a degree of responsibility at least remains with the Auckland people, and it is as well that they should know the conditions of hardship and rigour under which these men are labouring. I feel sure the people of Auckland will not allow this intolerable state of affairs to continue. It must be an iniquitous system which permits this uncharitable discrimination. There are many people in this city whose hearts are full of charity, and I earnestly appeal to them to provide funds to meet .the cases of these unfortunate men who are suffering through no fault of their own, and whose only desire is to hold up their heads as independent men and earn something for themselves and their dependents, without seeking charity."

Mr. Samuel added that donations could be sent, care of himself, to No. 14, Commerce Street, or P.O. Rox 1707. They would be acknowledged through the Press, and faithfully applied. The actual disbursement of the funds would be left to the local organisations.