PRINCIPLE FIRST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 17

PRINCIPLE FIRST

BOARD OFFENDED CONTROL OF RELIEF LABOUR CERTIFYING OFFICER REBUKED "I do not liko the tone of this letter at all. The question is who is in control of the men 011 our relief works, our board or the certifying officer?" commented Mr. H. E. McEntee, chairman of the Papakura Town Board, at last night's meeting, when a letter was received from the unemployment certifying officer at Papakura, Mr. C. B. McNatty, requesting that a certain relief worker should be transferred from his present, job to another, 011 account of his unfitness for strenuous work. The letter from the certifying officer, who is the Papakura postmaster, advised that the relief worker whom lie wished to be transferred had produced a medical certificate to the effect that he was unfit for strenuous duty. To reach the job on which lie was at present employed the man had to walk a long way from his home. "Would you kindly arrange for the man to be employed 011 the reserve at the northern end of the town in lieu of the cemetery, where he is placed at present?'' asked the certifying officer. Mr. McEntee said that he could not regard the letter other than as an attempted encroachment on the rights of the Town Board. It would be an intolerable position if the Town Board foreman wore not allowed absolute control of the men working under him. Mr G. W. F. Kerr moved that a reply should be sent to the certifying oliicer to the effect that the. board considered such a question should be one for the board's foreman, to whom the board had given discretionary authority and in whom it had every confidence. Mr. D. Weir seconded the motion. Mr. G. F. McDonald: Is it a matter of principle, or do we consider tlio man at all? The Chairman: We must consider the principle first. Mr. McDonald said ho thought the letter was merely written in "an official style." The motion was carried.