$30,000 ‘blown’ on party

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 6

$30,000 ‘blown’ on party

PA Wellington Out of. work Gear meat workers “blew” $30,000 on a children’s Christmas party and presents yesterday. The money was raised by Meat Workers’ Union members throughout New Zealand, after the Gear works in Petone was closed last' month, leaving hundreds of seasonal workers without jobs to go to and no redundancy j)ay. The r Otago-Southland branch of .the union made an appeal for' funds to help the Petone men and, as meat workers throughout New Zealand answered, the call, $30,000 was raised. ’■: .

The party yesterday for more than 400 children in Lower Hutt was the result. Mr Wayne Wilson, president of the union’s nowdefunct Petone sub-branch, said “We blew the lot.” Long trestle tables were crammed with food, the stereo played Christmas carols, and the children donned hats and ate. Later there was Father Christmas bringing what Mr Wilson said were “really good presents, each costing $25.” • The workers will get a present each, too—a chicken or half-ham bought with the money left over from the party.