A REALLOCATION

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1934, Page 10

A REALLOCATION

BELIEF GARDEN PLOTS

MANY WELL WORKED

OTHERS USELESSLY HELD

It is a considerable time since the allocation of relief workers' garden plots on the city reserves was made, and it is understood that there is a good deal of discontent amongst those who have worked their.plots well owing to the announcement that all allocations will be cancelled as from April 1. The attitude of the relief worker who has worked his plot to advantage is expressed by a correspondent, "Not a Tired Relief Worker," as follows:—

"May I beg a small space to enter a very strong protest against the action of the Dircttor of x Jarks and Reserves in withdrawing the garden plots issued to relief workers. Quito a number of us have put in a lot of time and money preparing t!ic grpuud (which was all clay when issued), and even built break-rands, and now wo are informed by the bureau that we have to vacate the plots by April. I have not had to buy any vegetal;/ s for the last four and a half months, and hav^e just planted a lot of winter greens, and because a few are too tired or lazy we all have to suffer. I understand that the Director of Parks is going to remove the soil we have'made for use in the various parks. ' Cannot our city councillors put a stop to this?" ■ It is understood that the announcement made regarding; the cancellation of all allocations by the Unemployment Bureau was due to an intimation by the Director of Parks and Reserves that the area would be resumed by him as from April 1. "MOST UNSATISFACTORY." "It is not the idcato resume all the plots," saicl the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) • wh.en the matter was referred to him. "They will instead be reallocated, after a .check-up on^fcliDsc who are using or not using them.' Since the allocations three years ago ft > large number of the original plot-holders have gone back on permanent jobs, others have been discharged from relief work for varying reasons, and.the present position is most unsatisfactory. Some men have three or four plots, which they1, have gradually taken over, others again are working plots which have been handed over to them by relief workers wno are not now interested in them, and in som« tases plots are being worked for relief workers by other men. Somo relief workers who would be willing to work a plot complain that they cannot get one, while some men hold two or three.

'' Out of '800 plots available fewer than 300 are being worked at present. In the interests of the men themselves there must come a time when the position is checked up. Those who are working their plots can have them roallocafed. There is no intention to drive' any man off his plot when it is being worked, and there is no intention to remove' soil from the plots. There have been quite a number of applications from men who would pay ss. for the us.o of a plot, even though they have left the relief jobs, if they wero allowed to retain their plots. There are also a number of applications from women living handy to the ground, who cannot get rjots now becauso they are allocated, but.riot being worked." Further inquiries showed that there has been some unpleasantness because of notices erected on these portions of the Town Belt ordering people to keep off, and exception has been taken on several occasions to the action of the caretakers in enforcing these notices. It is stated that some men are working a.number of plotsj and selling part of the crops. Relief workers have also nmde complaints that their vegetables have been stolen, and'that they have lost heart because it was difficult to keep people off the Town Belt. QUESTION OF CONTROL. Under the regulations of the Unemployment Board it is still compulsory for a relief worker to work a plot, and refusal to do so may result in his bciii" refused relief work. Control of the allocation of plots ,to qualified relief workers rests with the board's oflicers. A committee which formerly actively interested itself in relief workers' plots was disbanded when the board no longer saw its way to make contributions of seeds, manures, etc., and seeds, etc., were supplied by seedsmen at special prices to relief workers. Tho committee is not now functioning, but it is probable that some unified control will result, from a conference between the Department and the reserves committee. FOR WHOSE BENEFIT? _ Relief workers with whom the position was discussed expressed the hope that if tho plots were reallocated, the men who had brought their ground to a fine state of tilth would not be given fresh ground to break in. It was also hoped that where relief workers had for various reasons abandoned worked plots, these should, where, possible, be reallocated to incn near at hand, who wero at present travelling considerable distances from their homes to plots because all plots in their vicinity were allocated, even though some were not worked. It was felt, said one, that any improvement of tho ground due to relief workers' gardening should accrue to relief worker liscrs, and not revert to the Reserves Department until the need for relief plots was ended, ■