DENIAL OF "LOAFING"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 11

DENIAL OF "LOAFING"

RELIEF WORKERS ON FARM COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE A decision fo investigate the allegations made by Mr. A. Roberts, a farmer in the Manurewa district, that the relief workers employed clearing land on his farm were "loafing" was made yesterday by the Manukau County Council. The council has instructed its "Over-the-fence" Committee to meet Mr. Roberts and representatives of the. men on the job on Monday next to investigate the statements of both parties. % Keen resentment was-expressed by the 40 men employed on the job when they learned of the allegations, and in statements made by representatives of the men ifc was claimed that the delay in completing the work was inevitable, on account of the inferior nature of some of the tools supplied. It was also mentioned that numbers of the men had to walk considerable distances between their homes and the farm. Following a stop-work meeting on Wednesday afternoon a deputation waited on Mr. Roberts and asked him either to substantiate or withdraw his allegations. He explained that his complaint to the County Council had been of a private nature, but held that the work of clearing the 25 acres had been . unduly lengthy. He admitted there might be something in the men's contentions that certain of the tools were of an inferior nature. At the request of the men, Mr. C. S. McCalJum, the Papakura riding member of the County Council, visited the job in the afternoon. The men presented a list of their grievances concerning tools and conditions of work, and asked that Mr. Roberts be invited to withdraw his statements.