BACK AT WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 230, 29 September 1933, Page 8

BACK AT WORK.

MERCURY BAY RELIEF MEN. SETTLEMENT EFFECTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHITIANGA, this day. The following telegram addressed to Mr. E. Chad ban was received yesterday from the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in answer to the telegram from Mercury Bay relief workers: "Your telegram, also letter signed by yourself and other relief workers, received. Am making inquiries into your representations."

In view of the report of the dismissal of Mercury Bay married relief workers, Mr. Stanley Smith, certifying officer for the Unemployment Board in the Thames district, arrived at Whitianga yesterday to inquire into matters.

The chairman of the County Council, Mr. A. Wells, took exception to the telegram forwarded by the men. He pointed out that men were not dismissed, as work on the bowling green was waiting to be done. He, however, refused to offer them other work until this was completed. The shell to be removed was being used for country roads in Whitianga.

Mr. Smith explained the position regarding the duty of the local unemployed committee, giving his opinion that the council was justified in asking the men to do the work referred to.

The men said they had been approached previously for the price of excavating and levelling the croquet lawn, which they considered unconstitutional, being work of a private nature.

After lengthy discussion the men, with one exception, agreed to return to work at once so that no time will be lost by them.

Mr. Smith is taking a sample of the material in dispute for analysis. The land in question is a small piece at the southern end of the bowling club's property, about 18ft square, containing some six yards of mixed sand and shell, for purposes of extending the croquet club's lawn, which the council chairman agreed to have done for-them, any extra work to be paid for by the croquet club. The men contended that the allocations for this district were exceedingly small and that street footpaths require more urgent attention.