Men Leave Otematata

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31662, 24 April 1968, Page 1

Men Leave Otematata

Since January about 200 men had either become redundant or had left Otematata seeking work elsewhere, said the general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union (Mr W. A. Dempster) yesterday.

He said that “Otematata widows” were a new group there.

The husbands in about 100 families at Otematata were forced to live elsewhere, sometimes 200 miles away. A

few were lucky enough to get home once a month to see their families but others visited home about each three months.

Mr Dempster said it was revealed at the half-yearly meeting of the Dunedin and Christchurch branch executives of the union in Christchurch yesterday that about 20 families at Otematata were living on unemployment benefit.

He said that about 20 per cent of the previous work force at Otematata had shifted. The recreation amenities and single men’s canteens were expected to be closed soon. The welfare association,

which had done so much to help the Otematata community, would be wound up.

The problem now was to hold sufficient men, with no prospects for their future, to complete the project at Otematata, said Mr Dempster. From the lack of information it appeared that the Government did not intend! to assist the Otematata people as it had promised. “No constructive policy has been forthcoming to give the people of Otematata any j hope.” Mr Dempster said that he could see a real danger of Otematata turning into a slum town if some assistance]