MINISTERS’ TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 6

MINISTERS’ TOUR

WEST COAST VISIT. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, July 14. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) and the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) arrived from Blenheim this evening and were met at Inangahua Junction by representatives of local bodies and escorted to Westport. En route a stop was made at Tiroroa, where residents of the constructional camp gave the Ministers a hearty welcome.

| In the course of his reply, Mr Semple urged them to get into unions, ‘as he would deal with organisations, not individuals. He had for them a 140-hour week and a minimum wage !of 16s, with the right to earn more on contract, and he hoped to make imI provements in the camps so they ■might have hooks.for study to improve their understanding and radios to ! listen in to Parliament and make i themselves acquainted with world affairs. Tho country had placed an im- : portant trust in them and they were determined to be worthy of that trust, j“I am determined that the public works of this country will be free from 'scroungers, harpies and spielers,” said ! the Minister. “Wo want men to get 1 together and pull together, and make New Zealand an example for the rest of tlio world.”

The Ministers this evening are guests of the Labour Party, and tomorrow they have a full round of activities, including turning tho first sod to commemorate tho recommencement of the Puller Gorge railway.