IN DISTRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 8

IN DISTRESS

MINERS OUT OF WORK

POSITION AT KAITANGATA

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "Tho Evening Post.") ') BONEDIN, This Day. Kaitangata'a miners are still without work and without the pay due to them. However, there is a prospect of their making an early start on Government relief work—the construction of a road aloiig the west bank of the Eiver Clutha.

Eeports from Kaitangata this morning showed that the shops were still open.'

Subscription lists are bfeing opened in Milton and Balclutha to assist the families of the miners.

Mr. JT. Waite, M.P., has dispatched a telegram to the Minister of Mines asking that £200 of the £3000 held by the Public Trust Office, and known as the Kaitangata Relief Ihind, be used for alleviating distress at Kaitangata. This money is the residue of the fund set up many years ago for the benefit of the dependants of the miners killed in the Kaitangata explosion of 1879. Of the original dependants only one (a woman) survives. The descendants of the miners..have made efforts to secure the money lying in the custody, of the Public Trustee, but the Government has stood fairly* firm and it has lain untouched,. for all claims have been met. .'■-..

Mr. G. H. -Ellific (deputy-Public Trustee) states that 'he-.knows of no regulation passed directing that tho money be used in other directions, but in the Washing-up Bill of 1921-22 the fund was transferred for the relief of the widows, families, and dependants of miners killed in any mine in New Zealand. ';'..' Efforts to find work for the- men are being pushed ahead rapidly and strenuously since the deputation. Mr. J. E. Marks (District Public' Works Engineer), acting under instructions from the Acting-Prim^ Minister; has been in communication with his officers in all parts of the district, and he stated this morning that ha had' a number ofschemes to discuss with Mr. 'White. A consultation between. Mr. Marks

and Mr. -"White took place this morn-

ing, and as a result Mr. White this afternoon recommended to the Hon. "W: D. Stewart that the most important and favourable work was the construction of the road up the- west bank of the Clutha River. The work would be handy to Kaitangata, and the- men could be. conveyed daily.- to and, fro ia buses. ■ . " ' .