THAMES PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 5

THAMES PROTEST.

CAMPS FOR MARRIED MEN. BOARD'S SCHEME CRITICISED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. A largely attended meeting of citizens took place in the Miners' Union Hall last evening to consider the projected compulsory settlement of married unemployed men in camps. The Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor, presided. The speakers included Mr. A. Corner, president of the Thames Unemployment Association, the Revs. A. G. Dawson, R. R. Seaton, A. Liversedge, A. Fear, and H. M. Adams. The Mayor stated that he was not in sympathy with the Unemployment Board's scheme, particularly the drafting of siugle men to camps and the granting of labour to farmers. There was nothing compulsory in the board's letter concerning married men going to camp, but he had been informed of one case in whicli a certain amount of compulsion was suggested. He considered that the local committee should be allowed to shoulder more responsibility. There was an abundance of work locally and no need for one man to be drafted out of Thames. He enumerated local works that could be undertaken.

All the speakers supported the protest, and a 'resolution was passed strongly protesting against any projected compulsory settlement of married men in camps, also against the treatment meted out to single men and the latest injustice of cutting Maoris' allocations. The meeting was emphatic in stating that compulsion was against the moral and economic well-being of the people of the Dominion.