Foxton

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6620, 5 August 1931, Page 2

Foxton

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETS.

Tho Foxton Unemployment Committee mot on Monday evening, those present being: The Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perroau), and Messrs. Ross, McKenzie, Dawson, Shaw, Owen and Trueman (secretary). Two members of the gang employed under tho No. 5 schemo by the Harbour Board waited upon the meeting and complained about tho conditions under which they were being expeeted to work at Rush Flat. The men stated tnat owing to the spring tides and stormy weather combined with a flood in tho river, they had been stranded for some hours on Rush Flat, where they had been compelled to sit out in tho cold westerly gale and wait until the tide recedod before getting out. At 10 o’clock that morning they had to wade out from their worh. They moved farther along the bank until II o’clock i from which time until 3.15 p.m. they had been compelled to sit out in the cold wind. Iu getting out later iu the afternoon they had to wado through water above their waists. This was the third occasion lately on which they had been stranded and yet they were being asked to go down to the job again the next day. Although there were 30 men employed at Rush Flat only ten pairs of gum boots had been provided and most of the men were being expected to work without them. Mr. Trueman said the matter was one which concerned tho Harbour Board. Mr. Perreau said the committee’s only duty was to allocate tho men to tho various jobs and the Harbour Board was responsible for tho conditions under which the men worked. If the Harbour Board stood a number or the men down, they would then be out of work as there was nothing else offering. It appeared as though the committee should allocate less men to the Harbour Board.

Mr. Shaw said he saw the men get off the bus on their return from work that evening and it was not exaggeration to say the men were wet up to their chests. The conditions at present were exceptional and he suggested that the Harbour Board be asked to find the men some other work until the weather improved and the river went down. There was no doubt, he said, that conditions were shocking at Rush Flat at the present time and while they did not want to hinder the Harbour Board, he had heard there were various other bits of work which could be done at the beach. He suggested that Mr, Perreau confer with the other members of the board and see if something could be arranged. Mr. Perreau said he was surprised to know that tho men were working on Rush Flat at the present time. He knew of plenty other work which could be done at tho heads and he promised to take the matter up with the board at once.

A letter, in reply from the Unemployment Commissioner stated that he had been in touch with Mr. Shepherd, of the Native Department, in regard to the representations made by the local committe to the Native,. Minister concerning the work of cultivating the Matakarapa swamp. The Commissioner stated that he had been advised that the Matakarapa scheme had been approved and that the details of the proposed work were now being arranged. Members expressed pleasure that the efforts of the committee in this direction had been successful. Mr. Trueman said that in a year or two, instead of toi bushes, they would probably see cows grazing or flax growing there. Mr. Perreau: “Probably flax.’’ A letter from the .Unemployment

Comissioner said that tho committee’s recommendation that labour under the No. 5 scheme being employed in raising the mdin road at Whirokino was under consideration and that the matter was being taken up with tho Main Highways Board. The Mayor, in referring to a recent interview with the Unemployment Commissioner, said that the Commissioner had given him no encouragement to’ be optimistic for the future. Whilo stating that it was the duty of all Unemployment Committees to help to find work for those out of employment, the Commissioner had hinted that the timo was not far • distant when single men would be off work altogether and married men would also have to take less. The board was doing its best to meet the situation, but the trouble was due to tho lack of money. As far as the local committee was concerned, it was there to help the board and to assist tho men in .getting work. He pointed out that it was also the duty of tho committo to see that local bodies to whom men were allocated, got full work from the men and that they provided adequate supervision and saw to it that tho men put in their full eight hours each day. If that was not being done, the committee should see that that particular body did not get men. Men employed under the No. 5 scheme were subject to the same discipline as if they, were directly employed by the local 'body for whom they are working and, the board expected local bodies to see that the men did their work properly and gave satisfaction. PERSONAL. Mr. C. H. Hunter, the newly-selected official Labour candidate for the Manawatu electorate, is a most popular member of the staff of the Wellington Corporation Tramways. He is also a member of the executive of the Wellington Tramways Workers’ Union.