COUNTRY WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 12

COUNTRY WORK

POSITION AT ONEHUNGA

CAMPS OR DISMISSAL OFFICIAL VIEW UNCHANGED The difficulty which has arisen regarding relief workers at Onehunga continues. Ihe position ot the dismissed men is that eight of the married workers who refused to go to camp "aril! receive no pay this week and a further number, approximately 30 men, have been instructed that they will not be given time sheets next week. The Mayor of Onehunga, Mr. E. Morton, fonvarded the following telegram to the Hon. A. Hamilton, Minister of Employment: —" My council unanimously opposes sending married men to camp. Local business men unanimously endorse council's resolution. Suggest decent pay for married men doing country work." The Minister replied;—'' Every endeavour is made to retain married ielief workers in the locality in which they reside by placing them on suitable work if it is available. When such work is cot available, there is no option but to oner them work of a reproductive nature if possible in another locality. In regard to the demands on the unemployment fund, however, it is not possible to grant them full wages." A deputation representing the Onehunga branch of the Auckland Provincial Unemployed ■ Workers' Association, the Relief Workers' Club, and the Onehunga Ex-servicemen's Club, yesterday waited upon Mr. Morton. It was urged that the interpretation of the Minister's telegram was that if the Borough Council, provided work for the married men they would cot be sent to the country.

The ilayor definitely stated that the council could provide work, but at the moment it was handicapped by a shortage of funds with which to purchase the necessary materials. Arrangements were in progress for raising a loan, and as soon as. the money became available there would be plenty of work for them in the borough. Mr. Morton mentioned several projects which the council had in view, such as permanent road formations, concrete footpaths and th*> construction of a swimming bath. Later in the day the same deputation interviewed Mr. W. Slaughter, ofncer controlling unemployment in the Auckland district. The Rev. H Thornley, who acted as spokesman, said the dismissal of men for refusing to go to camp without a thorough investigation being m2de into their circumstances was indicting undue hardship on many mothers, wives and children, and he requested that those men who had been refused relief work in Onehur.ga should receive their wages for last week. They were dismissed, he said, without warning and were unable to make any provision for their families.

Mr. Slaughter said he accepted full responsibility for the course adopted and refused to pay any further wages to the dismissed men. He said the work in the country was more important than that in the city, and the selected men would either have to accept camp conditions or be discharged.