HON. H. ARMSTRONG

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 5

HON. H. ARMSTRONG

STRAIGHT TALK TO DEPUTATION CANTERBUIiY RELIEF WORKHUS

••(up not going to stand any more of I his- r hfive given yog a written statement, and if you do not. take that, you can go and abuse me outside oi somewhere else. Aim emit do it licpe.” With these words, the Hon. H. I. Armstrong, Minister tor Labour and Employment, closed a discussion with a deputation from the Canterbury branch of the Unemployed Workers’ Association on Thursday, says “The Press.” In expressing a grievance for relief workers doing casual work at Hu; railway goods sheds, Mr R. Adam, a piumbcr of the deputation, said Mr Arpistrong had previously given a promise to the men. Mr Armstrong produced a written statement, which had been Ids reply to earlier representations by the men, and said that only a distorted imagination could have made anything else out of it. ‘(You may not have broken your promise intentionally. ’’ Air Adam said, to which Mr Armstrong replied: “I have never broken a promise in my life—intentionally or unintentionally.” He went on to say that the men whom Air Adam represented had been singled out for special treatment and surely had no complaint. Mr Adam continued to speak, but Air Armstrong interrupted. “I’m not going to stand any more of this,” he said. “I have given you niv written statement, and if you do mil take that you can go and abuse me outside or .somewhere else. You can’t do it here. A’ott are challenging my honesty and mv sincerity, and you, say that I am trying to get out of some promise I made. I have one of the most competent shorthand reporters in New Zealand here, and he took down my words. They will stand investigation anywhere, and just because someone with a distorted imagination puts some interpretation on them, I can’t help it.” Mr Adam: “Can I say—?” Mr Armstrong: “Pm not going to stapd any more of it.” Afr Armstrong went on to say that he thought the men had been welltreated. and bad no cause for complaint. People were getting sustenance to keep them from starving. He was not going to take something that should go to those in a less fortunate position than those represented ny the speaker and give it to the highestpaid relief workers. He was going to start at the bottom and work up. Mr S. Fournier, president of the association, who introduced the deputation. said his organisation supported that view.