COUNTY RELIEF CAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 13

COUNTY RELIEF CAMPS

POSSIBILITY OF CLOSING WORKERS DISSATISFIED AGREEMENT BY COUNCIL An agreement to close every relief camp under the control of the Waitemata County Council by the end of next week should the men decide that they do not desire to continue under tho new working conditions was given to a deputation of relief workers by Mr. W. A. Bishop, chairman of the county council, yesterday afternoon. A deputation of about twenty men, Representing workers in the county council's relief camps, waited on Mr. Bishop, Mr. F. Lark speaking on behalf of the men. At yesterday morning's meeting of tho council members condemned tho new system of relief payments to country workers, the chairman being given power to take any action which he deemed advisable on behalf of the council. New Conditions Criticised Speaking for the men from the camps, Mr. Lark asked Mr. Bishop if, as chairman of the county council, he could endeavour to arrange with the acting-Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, for a reversion to tho 40-hour week for relief camps. Mr. Lark pointed out that under the new conditions and the 47-hour week it was practically impossible for the men to find time to interview prospective employers. It was also difficult for the men to visit their homes in the weekends, although they were not allowed to take their wives or dependants into camp with them. He suggested that the council arrange to hold a ballot among the men in the camps to see whether they desired to stay on and work for 47 hours a week or have the camps closed. Mr. Lark said the position had become intolerable.

Mr. Bishop agreed that the conditions were most unfair and promised to do his utmost to arrange for a reversion to the old conditions. He suggested that the men go back to the camps for a week, consider the matter fully and await information from him regarding the success or otherwise of his efforts to secure improved conditions. Men to Hold Ballots Ballots would be held at the end of the week and if it was indicated that the men declined to work under the old conditions the thirty or so camps under the control of the council would be closed immediately. About 260 men would be affected.

A request was also received from relief workers working under the No. 5 scheme in the Swanson district that the council endeavour to secure an alteration in the anomalous system of country relief payments under the No. 5 scheme. It was stated that a single man in a country district, after working for a week, received lis, whereas a single man in the city had no work to do but received 12s sustenance per week. It was explained by a representative of the men that the assumption that living conditions were lower in country districts was erroneous. Groceries and general supplies, he said, cost considerably more in a place like Swanson than in the city.

Mr. Bishop agreed to bring up with the authorities the matter of ordinary relief rates in country districts at the same time as the other matters.