LIQUOR CONDEMNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23012, 13 April 1938, Page 14

LIQUOR CONDEMNED

PUBLIC WORKS CAMPS MR. SEMPLE'S CAMPAIGN DISMISSAL OF AGITATORS [BT TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday "For the first time in their history the constructional camps of New Zealand, I am glad to say, are practically free from liquor," said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. Seinple, in an interview to-day. There might be individual cases throughout the country where liquor was still finding its way into the camps, the Minister admitted, but as soon as a whisper of offences against the rules was heard full investigations were made. "When we catch those responsible. they have to look for other jobs,'' he added. The dismissal of men with Communistic leanings was also mentioned by the Minister. Very little trouble was now being met from Communists, he said, because most of them had been weeded out. He wanted men to go on to the jobs to give service, not to play the fool. i The Minister said he would not stand for disruptive activity in the camps. At every camp he visited he made inquiries from the engineers as to whether there was disaffection among the men. If the men had a legitimate grievance he would put it right. They could make their complaints through the union to the engineer, and through him to the district engineer, and as a last avenue of redress to the Minister. Mr. Semple said the men were happy, contented and were pulling their weight.