RAILWAY CAMPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20766, 8 January 1931, Page 11

RAILWAY CAMPS.

PLIGHT OF WORKMEN.

FOOD SHORTAGE THREATENS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION-] GISBORNE, Wednesday.

A critical situation is developing at camps along the railway route between Gisborne and Waikokopu, where practically all the men have returned from the holidays, hoping to recommence work.

Difficulty has arisen over the catering airangements, as the caterers are not prepared to assume further commitments in addition to those already accumulated. Many men owe money to the cookhouse managers, and the latter refuse to reopen their cookhouses without some guarantee of payment for past meals, as well as for immediate requirements. The managers are nominated by the union, and it is understood that the department refuses the guarantee required. It is reported that 50 men in the Tikiwhata camp are without food, pending the reopening of the cookhouse. The conditions in other camps, though not so bad, are serious. The possibility of disorder is not remote, and the situation of the caterers is difficult.

Day-wage men are now engaged in clearing up and stacking plant, prior to their dismissal within a day or two, while co-operative contractors to-day received six days' notice as required by the award of the termination of their contracts. When notice was served upon the railway construction workers this morning no indication whatever was given any of the men as to further employment. The approximate number of .men affected between Tikiwhata and Gisborne is 339, of whom about 220 are married. A large number also ore being dismissed at the Waikokopu end of the line. Many will be absolutely penniless after meeting their liabilities, for December. The position is said to be without parallel in the history of construction work in New Zealand. INSTRUCTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD. MATTER TO BE ADJUSTED. [by telegraph— press association-] WELLINGTON, "Wednesday. Reference to the statement that the men employed by day on the Waikokopu-Gis-borneline had been dismissed without a week's notice was made later (his evening by Mr. Ransom, who said that from information he had received it appeared that his instructions had been misinterpreted, and that the day workers had actually been put off without notice. However, definite instructions had been issued that these men were to receive the same notice as those working under the co-op-erative system. This would mean that all the workers would be placed on the same basis and all would receive a week's notice.