WAGES WASTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 12

WAGES WASTED

MAORIS AND DRINK RELIEF WORKERS IN NORTH CERTIFYING OFFICER ACTS [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAITAIA, Monday In the Mangonui County, where tho registered unemployed number nearly GOO, and they, with their dependants, comprise about one-quarter of the population, the advent of increased wages has not been altogether an unmixed blessing. The majority of tho unemployed are natives, and now that a number of them are receiving 12s a day, besides the family allowance, they are comparatively rich. In some districts this extra money is being spent largely on drink, and against this tho certifying officer in Kaitaia, Mr. W. Cade, has taken a firm stand. Tho men have been warned that if excessive drinking continues they will bo stood down for a period. Trouble at Whangape At Whangape, according to one report, there is much drinking among tho Maoris at the week-ends, and it is stated that a snbstantial amount of tho wages, estimated to average 65 per cent, is being spent on wine, as well as on liquor from hotels, besides hops and malt for home-brew. The trouble at Whangapo came to a head recently, when, as the result of the behaviour of some natives at a concert, the Maori Council in Whangapo settlement took the matter in hand, and at a meeting at which Mr. A. Ngawaka, chairman of the committee, presided, five men were fined amounts totalling £ls. Constable F. Taylor, of tho Kaitaia police, was present at the meeting at the request of tho chairman. Men Stood Down

When this position came to the notice of the certifying officer, he immediately stood down the men concerned until arrangements could be made to put them in gangs under competent supervision, and provision could be made for the wives and families to receive a share of the wages. .An effort is also being made to check the purchase of hops and malt by natives, practically all storekeepers in the county reporting that they have made large sains of these two commodities to Maoris. The men who have been stood down are, it is understood, petitioning the authorities against the action of the certifying officer. The men are demanding that they should be reinstated in their work and given a job near to their homes under a foreman of their own choice. It is believed that the local officer has placed the whole matter before the unemployment authorities for a ruling.