SINGLE MEN MUST ENTER CAMPS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LII, Issue 4796, 16 August 1932, Page 3

SINGLE MEN MUST ENTER CAMPS.

OR GO WITHOUT RELIEF WORK

At last night’s meeting of the Foxton Unemployment Committee, a letter was read from Mr. J. Lowden, of the Palmerston North Labour Bureau, intimating that there were vacancies for single men at Coley’s Bend and Makowai camps and intimating that single men cannot be detailed to otliei local work when they have refused to accept camp employment unless they can satisfy, the committee that they are physically unfit (by certificate), or have family obligations which makes their presence at home a necessity.

TANGIMOANA RELIEF CAMP. A communication was also received from Mr. Acheson, of the Public Works Department, stating that the Department had vacancies for fifteen single unemployed in the Makowai and Tangimoana camps, principally in the latter, and advising that the Commissioner for Unemployment had advised that he had no objection to men being sent to these camps from Foxton, which was outside the district in which the work was being undertaken, but was/anxious that some of the Foxton men should enter camp. It was pointed out that the work at Tangimoana consisted of marram grass planting and general reclammation work which would last from three to four months. The camp has been established at the site of the old Forestry Department’s camp about three miles south of Tangimoana. The old camp building has been converted into a cookhouse, mess-room and store and tent accommodation has been pi’ovided for the men’s sleeping quarters. On this work men will he paid at the “day woi J k” basis at the rate of 10/- per week and found, but it! was stated that it might be possible to do some of the work on the piece-work basis when gangs will be able to earn up to 14/- per week. AT MAKOWAI.

The work at the Makowai camp consists of widening, straightening and regrading the Makowai stream. The camp is very comfortable, as any who visit there could testify and the job was expected to last

about two months. The men in 1 • this camp are all engaged on| piecework as the Department found that this basis was preferred by the majority of the men and was more satisfactory from the Department’s point of view.* The Public Works Engineer pointed out that the men entering the camps should be equipped preferably with two pair of blankets and a pair of good, strong boots. If the men were unable to provide these they, could, obtain same at cost price from the Department. The men could be transported by lorry from Foxton if they were all ready to go at the same time, otherwise they would have to be sent to Rongo'tea. Siding by the local committee, where they would 1)0 met as they arrived and conveyed to camp. A's the marram grass planting season was now well advanced it was desired that the men report for duty as early as possible. The Chairman (Mr. M. E. Pei reap) remarked that the committee’s duty was now quite clear. It was evident that the Board would not stand for the calling of volunteers for the camps and it was the

duty of the committee to detail the men to All the vacancies and that failing them going without sufficient reason they were to receive no further assistance. NO VOLUNTEERS.

(Mr. R. Owen asked if there had been any response to the notice calling for , volunteers which had been posted up in the depot a ftextile last committee meeting-. Mr. P. Shaw: No.

Mr. W. R. McKenzie (Certifying Officer) stated that he had received two enquiries but no applications. Mr. 0. Dawson expressed his strong disapproval of the establishment of camps. There were

several throughout the country, he said, and he considered that the single men in the cities and larger

(owns should be sent into these according to the registrations of the respective towns. He admitted that Foxton was asked to supply only' a small quota but even so that was not in comparison with the registrations of the cities. It was only fair to the Foxton single men that the men for the camps should be drawn in proportion with the registrations. The secretary (Mr. W. Trueman) : \Vfell, we are hopelessly out of proportion at present because we have not sent one single man into camp and the cities have. Mr. Dawson: Wellington should send more before we have to. They have something like 400 single men registered. He considered the committee should enter a protest against the demand. ~ The Chairman said a recommendation on the lines suggested could be forwarded to the Board but he did not see how it was going to be alble to make distinctions. Mr. R. Owen: What is the objection to the camp? Mr. Dawson: None, but I have never liked the idea. The Certifying Officer pointed out that at the last committee meeting it had been decided to write to the Board asking that something be done immediately to place local men on some work, as the local

bodies could no longer find employment for them. The letter had gone forward and this was the reply that had come back. The committee had asked for work and got it. He could not see any objection to the camp proposal. As

far as drawing the men in proportion to registrations was concerned, he said he would like to draw members attention to the fact that Palmerston North was keeping three camps going. He pointed out the urgency/ of the appeal. The men had to report for work that night to allocate the men. MEN BALLOTED FOR. The Chairman said he would move that the list of registrations be perused and fifteen men be selected. Any legitimate objections could be considered at a later stage. If any of the men absented themselves from the camp without a reasonable excuse then they would be immediately struck off the local register. There were seventy single men registered locally to select from.

Mr. Shaw said that there was no doubt that the request had been made as a result of the committee s complaint to the Board that it had no work for its unemployed and the committee would have to take advantage of the offer. He felt quite sure that out of the registrations there would be at least fifteen men who) would be better off in the camp. He had been opposed to the camp scheme but under the circumstances which faced them now the men would just have to make the, best of it. The Harbour Board secretary had informed him that day that lie wished to be relieved of all' his menf and there was no doubt that the committee would be faced with considerable difficulty in finding work for its married men let alone the single. The 'Chairman: I don’t see how Mr. Dawson’s suggestion can be acted upon. We are here to carry out the instructions of the Unemployment Board and we have a duty to perform and will have to do it. I feel the men will be quite willing to go into the camps when they learn how good they are. The Chairman’s suggestion that the men be selected from the registrations was then put into operation and a balloting system was adopted, and fifteen men were selected after a careful investigation of all circumstances. The men will leave Foxton by lorry on Monday for Tangimoana and Makowai.