BAN ON APPEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 15

BAN ON APPEAL.

CASH AND l-OOD DRIVE.

MOUNT ALBERT REQUEST. RETURN TO WORK FIRST. Further requests l>y the Mount Albert Unemployed Relief Association for permission to make a cash collection and drive for food and clothing for the relief workers and their families have been refused by the Mount Albert Borough Council. An application of this nature was refused by the council earlier in the week and yesterday a verbal request by the president of the association that the question should be reopened was also do clined. The town clerk, Mr. T. R. Congalton, in a letter to the president of the association yesterday, acquainting him of the council's views, said:—"l have to draw your attention to tie fact that your demonstration of protest having been made, the continued refusal to engage in available work is inflicting unnecessary hardship on the wives ind children of many of your members ani non-members. While work is available the holding of a collection and drive woild be resented by a large proportion of ratepayers.

"l'our association must even at this lato hour recognise that the Government has under immediate consideration the improvement of the pay and conditions of your work, and further refusal increases the hardship suffered without effecting anv progress. That fact and the verbal intimations of many workers that they desire to work if alloved prompts the Mayor to invite your co-oneration in the taking of a secret ballot among all men on the borough lists 011 the question of a return to work.

" I am finally directed to say that the Mayor of Auckland, as chairman of the committee of local bodies, and social organisations interested in relief matters, has intimated that under normal conditions an application by this council to hold a district collection and drive might be approved of by the committee. In the conditions norr prevailing, however, and in view of the collections already authorised, I am to advise you that it is unlikely that early application to that committee would be made by this council." ANONYMOUS DONATION. SUM TO HOSPITAL BOARD. COMFORTS FOR MEN IN CAMPS. A donation of £2 to aid relief workers was received by t,he Auckland Hospital Board yesterday from an anonymous donor who signed herself " Widow's Mite." The donation is the first that has been received by the board, and the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, stated yesterday that further gifts would be welcome, as they would enable men in camps to be provided with additional clothing, boots and such comforts as books, cigarettes and tobacco.

| " I think the public should be asked to try and do what tliey can toward helping relief workers," said the donor of Hie sum in her letter. " lt» seems strange that nobody has taken a lead. The Government and Hospital Board cannot do everything, as bhero are so many that need help. The public must have received a shock, bit they must get over it and try to help the less fortunate. I hope someone more able will rally the people." " I think it is an excellent suggestion that citizens should do something to assist in alleviating the conditions under which both single and married men are working in camp;;," said Mr. Wallace. Nearly all the men required extra clothing, particularly in view of the approach of winter, while boo:s were another necessity for most men. To make life in the camps more tolerable, supplies of books, magazines, tobacco and cigarettes would be greatly appreciated, a small amount of such help goinj; far toward ameliorating conditions.

CONDITIONS IN CAMPS. METHODS IN POKENO AREA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] POKEKO, Friday. "It onlv needs reasonable interest on the part of the local bodies and others for whose benefit the work is being done, to ensure that conditions at unemployment relief camps in tie country are satisfactory," said Mr. J. Dean, of Pokeno, today, in regard to questions that have been raised by Archdeacon Mac Murray and others as to conditions at the camps. Mr. Dean is'the Mercer riding representative on the Franklin County Council and chairman of the Franklin Power Board. He mentioned that he had had over 25 years' experience in handling men ' on various outdoo* works, and had thus obtained first-hand knowledge as to what was necessary to make men reasonably I comfortable in works camps. He would Ibe pleased to shw Archdeacon MacMurray and the representatives of any other organisations and societies the methods adopted in his district, where there were now approximately 100 unemployed men from Auckland city on relief

works. At Mangatawhiri, where there wore 51 single men accommodated in tents, instructions had been given by the department. in response to representations made by Mr Dean, as riding member, a few days ago to Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P., for the immediate erection of a room for drying the men's clot bos. This would have a large open firepiace at one end. The tents were also being made fully weatherproof, against winter conditions, and the County Council w.is supplying gravel for the pathway around the camp. The men'were engaged in widening the Mangatawhiri Rtreim. and a committee of settlers had now provided 24 pairs of gumboots for those who were working act.uallv in the water. . . In another part of the Mangatawhiri area, eight married men were accommodated in a house, which had a proper range in the. kitchen and an open fireplace in the dining roorr. There were two bedrooms fitted with bunks. Two new tanks, each to hold 400 gallons of water, had been provided. At Kopuku. where 23 married men were engaged clea-ing the Whangamarino Stream of willows, permanent buildings were also being used as the camp. There was a kitchen, a range with hot and cold water, and an open fireplace. In fact, the conditions more than fully complied with those required under the Factories Act. First aid outfits, were supplied to the camps, and in other ways help was given by the settlers to make conditions reasonably acceptable tc the men.