MILLERTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 9 June 1933, Page 7

MILLERTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) The Alillerton miners are once again having a lean time having only tour days’ wages to collect, un Friday last. The no-work whistle went all last week and up till the present, prospects for this week do not look bright. The All Black Soccer team played Denniston Celtic on the Domain on Sunday and won by four goals to two. Scorers for the home team were G. Osman two, and P. Taylor two. In the Town versus Country representative game, played in Westport on Saturday, Millerton players, aueording tu paper reports, seem to have done credit by their selectors. As a matter of fact, Osman and Morton were classed as two of the best, forwards on the field. Reid behind the scrum, also distinguished himself. The Millerton Rangers Hockey Girls’ had two teams playing in the annual six-a-sido tournament held at Denniston on Saturday. The A team comprising the following players: Mrs Sutton. Misses S. Closs, M. Osman. E. Sutton, K. Sutton and AL Clarke, met Koranui in the final and won by two goals to nil. Later Miss K. Sutton, captain of the Ranger team, was presented with the Elite Cup. Last Thursday evening Mr. Niven, chairman of the Buller County Council. Mr. McPadden inst for the School of Alines, and Air Smith; chief postmaster of Westport, visited Alillerton to address the unemployed workers in connection with single men going to camps at Kongahau. and also in regards to married men going to the Lyell to work the Alpine Gold mine (quartz workings), on relief wages at 30/- per week for a six day’s working week, the men to be brought home once a month. Mr. W. Clark, Presi-

dent of the Miners’, Union, occupied the chair and introduced the speakers, i Mr. Niven spoke first on the camps for single men ami if his illustrations were true why it must be ideal to camp

I n Kongahau. The speaker emphasised camp life from the sporting side ami touched sparsely on the manual labour question. The impressions one .would gather from Air Niven’s speech in reference to the sporting side of camp life, are that aftej the finish of tin* day’s toil and the worker fancied a little fish there are plenty to be had for the spearing (flat rfish), and if you prefer wild duck al] your require is a rifle to shoot then! with. Now

if you want some venison you wail till the winter comes then the does come down on to the flat country for the campers to select their kill. Even if the three mentioned sports is to be ha<k how ale the men going to procure rifles ami cartridges. Regarding having football teams, this is cer tainly quite simple, but th<» wages would not show enough surplus to buy their outfits if we take an analysis

of the camp workers’ wages in various places. There was very little discussion on the single men’s camp scheme, as they have nearly all gone prospecting. The County (’hairman then introduced the Alpine Quartz Mine proposition for the married men, then Air McPadden and Air Smith eloborated on same. This mine is being held in reserve for the Alillerton unemployed.

It was stated that about 30 men wore required to work on a co-opera-tive basis, ami if the Unemployed on the Hill turn this down, they shall be struck off the dole. The speaker further said that once the mine was further developed they could absorb more unemployed men in the district. Mr Clark invited questions, and their were many. One question asked was, “Is it possible to maintain two homes on 30/- per week and who is going to supply firewood, etc., during the month while those married men are away?” Another worker asked, “In the event of failing to find the necessary labour on the Hill where would the Council apply next?’’ Air. Niven stated, “Wellington or Christchurch,” also admitting they would be rushed with applicants. After further questions had been asked a vole was taken of those in favour of going to this mine, the result was 48 against going to nil in favour. The Stockton Miners’ Union have sent a protest to the Afinister of Employment ami decided Io give all their support n this issue. Millerton Afinors are also protesting and all other Union branches have been circularised in the district, also the Reef ton Miners’ Union.

'The National Executive of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement has also been notified and Mr. H. E. Holland. M.P. for the district, also has protested to the Minister.