KAWATIRI CAMP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 July 1928, Page 12

KAWATIRI CAMP

(To the Editor) Sir, —Will you please allow me through tin- columns of your valuable paper to challenge the District Enginoei „f the Public "Works Department to prove his statement to your representative that the letter written to you by the three men picked out- by the men of the camp and signed by me as chairman of the meeting is contradicted by mv article published on the 11/7/28. yfv article was written last Sunday night. The work on the sanitary department was done the week previous the letter in the "Evening Mail" distinctly states. 17 men have been in this camp for a period of four months and 34 arrived during the past fortnight and no sanitorv conveniences whatever were provided until 3rd July. That bears my statements out. When describing the digging of these holes for sanitary purposes the Engineer also says ill 1 Hudson’s statement as to earnings is correct. Did Mr Hudson get a full report of the workers’ wages, or did he pick out some of the highest for publication? Mr May also says any man having a grievance* has a constitutional method of having it enquired into. At the meeting last Friday one of the men reported coming to Nelson to Mr May’s office and asked the office hoy if ho could sec the Engineer. The office boy wanted .to know his business before he could see the Engineer. As the matter was private between himself and the Engineer, about wages etc, lie refused to tell the office boy. At the finish of the discussion a young fellow came out of a, private office" inside the main office, looked at the man who wanted to see the Engineer, then went to the door and looked up and down the street as if he was looking for a policeman. The man asked him what he was looking for. He whispered in his ear. As a matter of fact I was told to come and throw you out for persisting to see the Engineer. Explanations followed. The man was invited to come in and Mr May wanted to know why he did not let him know who he was. Now Air L. May, District Engineer of the Public Works Department, let ns have a fair fight. I claim that the letter written to the Press, by the 3 selected men of the committee, and signed by me, as chairman of the meeting, is strictly true, as we agreed as man to man to state nothing but the truth, and truth is what the people of Nelson and district want, I will go a step further. I will charter a car, take Air Afay and a ‘‘/Mail’’ reporter to the camp across the Buller river and there show him the sanitary conditions complained of. If I lose, to pay the cost of the car, if my statement is true Air May to pay the cost —and this money I pay the expenses with has been earned bv the sweat of my brow toiling over two ranges in the cookhouse from 4.30 a.m. in the morning until 7 p.m. at night with a slight rest about noon, 7 days a week. But why all this argument, a few sacks of lime will settle the question. Hoping I am not trespassing on your valuable space in the “Mail.” I am etc., “DAISY BELLS”.

(A request for “name and business” is usually made when callers seek departmental or business heads.)