RELIEF LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21166, 26 April 1932, Page 10

RELIEF LABOUR.

WORK RESUMES TO-DAY.;

GOOD RESPONSE EXPECTED. MOUNT ALBERT UNCERTAINTY. Generally speaking, a good response is expected to-day when work is resumed on tlio various unemployed relief schemes in the city and suburbs. All works will be resumed by the City Council this morning, and ifc is expected that tlio same number of men as last week, about 600, will be on tlio jobs. No trouble is anticipated, and tlio work should proceed as usual. It is expected that about 370 men will take up relief work again in the Mount Eden Borough to-day after the long weekend. Tlio workers there are regarded as being of a particularly steady type, and with the exception of a trifling number they have been unaffected by the propaganda to induco them to leave work.

The Mount Roskill Boad Board will be providing work this week for about 180 men. Most of tlio workers aro residents of the district, and they have shown no wish to leave their jobs. Afc Mount Albert the position is somewhat uncertain, and it is not definitely known how many of those who absented themselves from work last week will persist in that attitude to-day. Last week was stand-down week, and only about 70 men were working on the borough's relief schemes. On Friday, the council invitod the strikers to co-oporate in the taking of a secret ballot on the question of returning to work, but so far the suggestion has not been complied with. If the matter at issue is not decided soon it is likely that the council will itself take a ballot among tho men. It is in a position to provide relief work for about 400 men. At New Lynn also the position is doubtful. At a meeting on Saturday the unemployed decided to continue tho strike which had been carried on throughout the week, but it remains to be seen how far that decision will be adhered to to-day. Tho borough cr.n find work for between 160 and 170.

At Devonport, where scuno little difficulty was experienced last week, it is expected that full normal work will bo resumed to-day. There aro places for between 130 and 140 men. Under instructions from (lie Ellerslio Town Board, all men oligiblo and willing will bo provided with work this morning. At a meeting of tlio board on {Saturday evening, disappointment was expressed with the action of workers iu refusing to go on (lie jobs last week. MEN IN RELIEF CAMPS. NEED FOR EQUIPMENT. MINISTER'S FINANCE PROBLEMS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—MESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday.

Iho single men's relief camp system was the subject of a deputation from tho Wellington Citizens' Unemployment Committee to-day to tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in charge of Unemjiloyment.

The committee desired that, it should have wider discretionary powers with regard to men sent iuto camp. The deputation also stated that in tho interests of health and tho successful conduct of the camps, men should be provided with an initial outfit of footwear, working clothes and underclothing similar to the establishment of military camps. The Minister said "the Government was concerned chiefly with making tho money available go as far as it would, and for that reason had hesitated to bo in any sense generous. Tho supply of boots was a problem which the Government had in band. It had not yet been decided how far clothes should be provided, but it was true that a number of men were short of suitable clothing. Most of the questions raised by the deputation in connection with camps themselves had been dealt with already, except the question of hot baths. Mr. Coates said there were still some 10,000 men in Public Works camps, but he did not know if the Government could keep them going. It was a most serious problem how to proceed unless the Government got more money. The Government did not wish men with urgent responsibilities to go into camps, but their reasons for not going must be valid.

Mr. Coates would not discuss the question of wages. He said it could only ba a question of pocket money, as long as dependants were provided for. It was hoped before long, Mr. Coates said, to have 5000 men on the land. The'main thing was to provide for men with families.