PUBLIC WORKS CAMP CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22608, 27 June 1935, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS CAMP CONDITIONS

TO THE EDITOR Sib,—A party of public works men was recently transferred "from Central Otago to Hillgrove. What with travelling time and wet weather they lost a week's work. Why should these poorly paid workers' wives and families suffer through wet weather? Some of these men were on relief work in town for three or four, years. On top of this they had to pay their fares— about £l. Surely the Waitaki Council, which is getting them at coolie rates, should pay their fares. It seems a& if all public bodies are getting work done cheaply at the expense of relief workers' families. Men are worried to death through their wives being harassed by debt collectors. You cannot get blood out of a stone. The men on relief work in town are poorly paid, but the mep in the country who keep two homes going are decidedly worse off. We have been refused boots and blankets from the board. Most, of us have only one pair of boots. iney are often wet through. I see that funds are being raised to provide wireless sets, but the necessaries of life would suit us better. Two men are herded into small huts. In hot weather they are stuffy. Picture a wet night, with two men who are wet through trying to dry their clothes over the fire, and at the. same time, with candle light, cooking their tea. It should .be one hut, one man. Where are our health inspectors? We cannot get shelves in,, our huts, and have been refused stools. The men have to stand or sit on their beds to have their meals. It is terrible to see men who are willing to work getting their ardour damped by poor pay. time lost through wet weather, and exploitation in the necessaries of life when they should get everything at a cheap rate. When we arrived here, mort of us with very little in our pockets, we could not get credit from any of the business men. -You could not blame them, as they did not know us, but happily they are supplying us now till pav day.—l am, etc., tin pay uuj- Dismayed.

Hillgrove, June 25. [We are informed that men were not transferred from Central Otago to Hillgrove. When the work at the former Place was finished the men were informed that work was available at Hills* ove This is subsidised work carried out on a contract basis, the contributing bodes being tie Waitaki County Council, Unemployment Board, and the Highways Board.—Ed. O.D.T.]