BURWOOD GOLF COURSE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23002, 23 April 1940, Page 6

BURWOOD GOLF COURSE

AVENUE OF RELIEF WORK CONTINUANCE OF LABOUR INDICATED COMPANY DENIES PROFIT MOTIYE Remarks made yesterday by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) suggested that, unless more productive work was offering, labour would be made available for the Burwood golf course. Commenting on the dismissal of the men some weeks ago, and the replacement of 26 a day or so later, Mr Webb said that if the men had not played the game or had "swung the lead” the right thing was done when they were dismissed. An inquiry would be held into all the circumstances which led to the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) taking the action he was authorised to take. The Minister and Mr A. J. Ridler (head of the Employment Division of the Labour Department) were shown over Waitikiri and Burwood golf courses, which are contiguous, yesterday afternoon, and the financial position of the company was fully explained to them by Mr A. R. Blank, Dr. W. H. Simpson Mr H, P. Bridge (secretary), and Mr D. F. Glanville (president of the Burwood Club). They assured the Minister that they had subscribed the capital with no hope of ever receiving a profit, and each emphasised his ideal that a golf course should be provided for the people of Christchurch on which the fees would be so low that class distinction would not be possible. The agreement of the company to sell the Burwood course to the Christchurch City Council at valuation, allowing for the labour grants made, was quoted by the Minister. Mr Webb said that he had met the works committee of the ■ City Council in the morning and it was not keen on taking over the links. The directors who met the Minister told him that they would willingly hand the property over to the City Council if their capital could be returned. They denied that they had any intentions of making profit; and Mr Ridler told the Minister that if a maximum membership were obtained at the stipulated subscription, there was the most remote chance that the company would ever pay dividends. "Satisfied With Job" "I am satisfied, notwithstanding the criticism of Mr Blank and those associated with him, that they are benefactors of Canterbury and that that will be thought of them in time,” said Mr Webb, after praising the location of the course and plans to make it a breathing spot for the city. “I am perfectly satisfied with the job, because we are spending as much money on other works which are not producing the same results. But if. to-morrow, I could find work of a more productive nature, I would take every man away and the snorting public would then have to contribute as they did in the past. The men responsible for Burwood are giving to the younger generation cheap golf 25 years earlier than they could expect it." The Government wanted to provide work for all but it also wanted full benefit for the money spent, said Mr Webb. If he spent his own money, it did not matter to the public how he spent it; but if he was spending the public’s money, he had to be jealous of the expenditure for it was a sacred ;rust placed in him and other ministers. He wanted to spend the money in directions that would be most profitable; ind he believed that in the building of the golf course, accessible to all ;lasses as was evidenced by the apilication for membership of the relief vorkers employed on it, the money vas well spent. Throughout New Zealand, between LOGO and 1200 men were employed in he construction of sporting amenities. 3urwood was not the only golf course which had received assistance from he Employment Promotion Tumi anfi lis hope was that other new courses, would also be able to obtain assistance. Duty to Men “We know that a lot of the men are not 100 per cent, and we cannot expect 100 per cent, results from them,” iaid Mr Wehb. “Most of them are elderly men, and because of their dlsibilities, they would not get 10s a week f they worked for a private employer, lependent on making something out if their labour. We feel thht we have i duty to stand by them in the evenng of their life.” Viewing the problem from a national ioint, he thought it was better to spend tioney on golf links than on the dole, f the work had drawn labour from he * farms or industry, there would lave been cause for complaint. A reervoir of labour from which private nterprise could draw was available nd the more it was drawn from the appier the Government would be. The complaints of Marshland resilents and the Farmers’ Union that men mre being engaged on maintenance ;ork while farmers could not get asistance for such work, were passed n to the Minister by Mr C. Morgan Villiams, M.P. The departmental i iolicy was explained as being that no i elief labour was provided for main- £ snance if other labour could be emloyed. At Burwood, Mr Webb was iformed, no workers were being dis- 1 laced by the use of relief labour. f ... c