PARAPARAUMU CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 11

PARAPARAUMU CAMP

PAYMENT FOR MEALS

REQUEST TO MINISTER

Conditions in the single men's camp at Paraparaumu were the subject of an urgent qxiestion addressed to the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) by Mr. L. G. Lowry (Government, Otaki) in the House of Representatives this, afternoon.

Mr. Lowry asked whether the Minister's attention had -been directed to a report in the "Evening Post" of July 1, headed "War Relief Work," in which Mr, E. C. Hale, speaking on the camp, was reported to have said that the men in the camp now had to pay for all their meals and each week they had only 3s 6d to 4s lefl out of the 17s 6d. They were definitely worse off. Most of them were unable to do any work apart from pottering around their gardens and growing a few vegetables.

Was that statement correct? asked Mr. Lowry, and if so, what steps did the Minister propose to take towards remedying the position?

The Minister of Public Works said that the statement attributed to Mr. Hale that the returned soldiers in Paraparaumu Camp had now to pay for all meals was not correct. "They are paid at the rate of 17s 6d per week," said the Minister, "with free meals and camp accommodation in addition. They are not and never have been charged for meals. The men in the camp are unfortunately unfit for ordinary public works and are remaining in the camp at their own request."