"BASED ON RUMOUR"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 10

"BASED ON RUMOUR"

UNFOUNDED REPORT

JQUOR IN WORKERS' CAMPS

(By Telegraph— I'ress Association.i

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Reports of excessive drinking at Kaisoura by men employed in Public Works camps, /mentioned at a meeting of the Wairau Licensing Committee by the chairman (Mr. T. E. Ma'unsell, S.M.), were ■ challenged by.the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) at Auckland in an interview.

"Mr. Maunsell's statement is only based on rumour and my investigations so far prove that the rumours are not well-founded," said Mr. Semple. The'member for Wairau (Mr. E. P. Meachen), who was one of the Minister's co-opted members, made frequent visits to public.works jobs in the district and had just completed a tour from the northern end of the Soutfi Island Main Trunk line. He had reported that the progress made and-the conduct of the men were extremely good. Mr. Meachen had telephoned 10 him last, night to say there was no truth in the statement.

"There was some drinking at the other end of the line which I dealt with myself," added Mr. Semple. "I instructed the engineer to discharge any man who brought liquor on to the job., One was discharged and I sent his liquor back myself from the station to ,the brewery and instructed the engineer to keep a watchful eye and sack if necessary. Since this another man has been sacked for bringing driiik into the camp. We are watching very carefully both ends and have also posted warning notices. Everything possible is being done to keep the-camps-clean. ,

. "In fairness to the great majority ol men they are a fine, steady group. 1 have asked Mr. Meachen to make further investigations. We do not say the men shall be prohibitionists but we do insist that in constructional camps where women and children and sober men live they shall not be disturbed by excessive drinking1. I remember the time when constructional camps were drinking and gambling dens."