SEASIDE RELIEF WORKERS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21290, 9 October 1934, Page 16

SEASIDE RELIEF WORKERS

MEETINGS AT NEW BRIGHTON MR P. R. CLIMIE'S STATEMENT The New Brighton men numbering Jl2 who have been struck from the New Brighton pay roll and notified that they must enter the Ashley camp, unless they can produce a medical certificate of unfitness for the job, reaffirmed their decision not to go to camp at a meeting in the council yard yesterday morning. Strike Not Favoured A suggestion by Mr G. Marsh, president of the local sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, that if any man went to camp the whole lot should down tools was met by cries of, "What good are we going to do with a strike 7 No good at all." Mr Burnand said that the sympathy of the public would be alienated by a strike, and a strike was against the principle of the association. Those receiving work in New Brighton should pool their wages and assist those who had received notice for the Ashley camp. Further Assistance Sought At noon, a meeting of the 112 men selected for the camp was held. Messrs 11. Burnand, W. D. Kennedy, and C. Delhi were deputed to wait on the Rt. Rev. Bishop West-Watson, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Brodie, and Mr P. R. Climie, and to telephone to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. A further meeting of 350 men was held at the band rotunda in the evening, and the deputation reported that Mr Climie had stated that the facts as stated by the deputation placed a somewhat new light on the matter, especially in regard to the men being given only two days' notice to decide if they would go to camp. He thought the decision to send a deputation to the Unemployment Board wise, r.nd had no doubt that every consideration would be given to the men's case if it could be shown that sufficient work was available in the borough. Bishop West-Watson and Bishop Brodie had said that they wished to satisfy themselves that work was available in New Brighton before taking any steps.

Telegram to Prime Minister The Prime Minister was not available on the telephone, and a telegram asking him to allow the 112 men to postpone action and allow the men to work this week will be dispatched to-day. It was resolved that Mr W. D. Kennedy (secretary} represent the association on the deputation, which will include Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P. and the Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. A. M. Leaver), which will leave for Wellington this evening. If the 112 men are not given work this week it is intended to make a levy on their behalf of 5s from each relief worker who is employed this week.

STRONG EXCEPTION TAKEN REPORTED REMARKS OF MR BROMLEY NEW BRIGHTON BOROUGH COUNCIL'S COMMENT Strong exception ivas taken by the New Brighton Borough Council at its meeting last evening to remarks reported to have been made by Mr W. Bromley, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, about conditions oj" relief work in the borough. Mr Bromley was reported to have said that there was not enough work for the relief workers to do in New Brighton, and that the worst example of the No 5 scheme he had seen was to be found in the borough. One councillor claimed that in the light of statements made by the council, Mr Bromley's reported remarks amounted to describing the councillors as "perverters of the truth." , Mr Leaver said he had read in a newspaper several statements purporting to be those of Mr Bromley, including one that the council's staff of executive officers had expressed opinions contrary to those of the council. The Town Clerk (Mr C. T. Middleton) wished to make a reply to this. I The Mayor did not think Mr Bromley should have been allowed to make the remarks reported.

Deputation to Board Mr Leaver said that he had conMilted Mr Sullivan about the position of the relief workers required to go into the camp at Ashley, and Mr Sullivan's uoinion was that, the best means of gelling the matter settled was tor the Mayors of Christehureh and New Brighton, together with a representative of the relief workers, to go to Wellington lo explain everything to the board. Mr Leaver said he was willing to go at his own expense if the deputation were necessary, and lie asked and was granted an official appointment as a representative of the council. Cr. A. E. Lawry said that the issue at stake was a fairly big one. The men were not only chipping the sides of roads, but forming them. The town clerk explained that a wrong interpretation might be put on what Mr Bromley had said. Pie thought Mr Bromley might have been a little fairer about what was supposed to have been a private conversation. He had told Mr Bromley, and he understood the Mayor had also, that there was plenty of work to be done by relief labour in the borough, but that the council was not able to provide sufficient supervision. He had told Mr Bromley that the council had ppplied to the Unemployment Board for assistance, as it had already spent a great deal on tools. The Mayor: I cannot understand Mr Bromley. On little points he seems cut to help the council, but in the main issue he seems to be determined to curtail the amount of relief work done, and he is apparently determined to take the men away.

"Blunder Admitted" The Mayor said he now found that 160 men had received notices to go into camp. A prominent officer of the department had admitted to him that the department had blundered very badly in not consulting the council first The council had been doing everything it could to provide better supervision of its relief works. Mr Bromley's statement was as good as saying that the men were all chipping roads. Cr. Lawry: It is as good as saying that all the men sitting round this table are perverters of the truth. Cr. T. E. Thomson said he thought that the council should take some action against the treatment it had received. He thought the remarks Mr Bromley was reported to have made amounted to telling councillors they lied. He should not have been allowed to make such statements without referring the matter to the council. Cr. Thomson said he thought the Unemployment Board should have been courteous and let the council select the men to go into camp. He thought it would be wrong if the council did not take exception to the reported statements. A motion of protest against the Unemployment Board's action was passed, but the whole matter was eventually left in the hands of the Mayor and the rest of the deputation. ,