PROTEST VOICED

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 6

PROTEST VOICED

BLUFF UNEMPLOYED INTRODUCTION OF OUTSIDE LABOUR MEN FROM INVERCARGILL (From Our Correspondent.) Following the arrival at Bluff of a large body of relief workers from Invercargill yesterday morning, a deputation from the Bluff unemployed waited on the Mayor of Bluff (Mr T. F. Doyle) to voice a protest against the introduction of outside labour by the Bluff Harbour Board. At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr W. B. Dixon, a member of the Harbour Board, attended the meeting, which was held in the Council Chamber. It is understood that the men were sent down by the Southland Unemployment Committee, the Bluff Unemployment Committee not being consulted in the matter. Messrs G. Barton and A. Moorehead acted as spokesmen for the local married and single relief workers respectively. The speakers, in voicing a protest, said that it seemed grossly unfair to bring outside labour to Bluff when so many residents of the town were idle. There was plenty of labour available there to do the work for which the Harbour Board had engaged outsiders, yet the latter had had their fares paid to come down. The wages paid would be of no benefit to Bluff, whereas the town would gain by having any money earned locally distributed among its business people. The speaker for the single men also drew attention to the fact that unmarried men were to be sent to camps away from their homes in Bluff while there was work in the borough which would render this unnecessary if local men were given first call. The Mayor’s Reply. The Mayor, in replying, thanked the spokesmen for the able and moderately toned way in which they had made their complaints. He also thanked Mr Dixon for his attendance at the meeting. Personally, his Worship said, he felt deeply sympathetic towards the unemployed. At present the position regarding unemployed labour at Bluff was very unsatisfactory. There were obstacles in the way of those who wished to handle the situation differently: obstacles, which should be removed, and he believed it was in the best interests of all to have the position made public. The local Unemployment Committee had very little say in the matter of unemployment relief. They had no representation on the Central Executive and their protests had apparently no effect on that body either. When the Unemployment Bill was passed, definite periods of employment had been guaranteed to married and single workers, but these promises had only been partly honoured and evidently the men had no redress. Dealing with the present case,, the Mayor said that in his own opinion the Bluff Harbour Board should be in a position to employ local men at decent rates of pay on its revenue producing schemes. It would be remembered that the Government had urged employers of labour to do all they possibly could to keep men employed and if this course were universally followed there would be a far smaller registration of unemployed in the Dominion to-day. Speaking as Mayor of the borough, he could say that the council had faithfully endeavoured to do its part in the matter, with the result that it retained its staff and employees at the usual strength and rates of pay, thus considerably relieving the local unemployment position. Continuing, his Worship said that single relief workers in Bluff were now faced with the ultimatum that if they were not prepared to leave their homes and go to the relief camp at Kapuka, they would be struck off the relief list. This was obviously wrong when outside labour was being brought in to do local work. In conclusion, Mr Doyle said that the whole . question of relief work should be reviewed and proper steps taken to eradicate existing anomalies. He promised the deputation that the local committee would give the matter still further consideration and do all it could to remedy the obvious defects of the present system. Harbour Board’s Position. Mr Dixon said he personally was deeply sympathetic towards unemployed workers and he could sincerely assure those present that the Harbour Board members generally felt the same way. It must be remembered that while it was nominally the Bluff Harbour Board, its members were drawn from all parts of Southland and the board represented the province as a whole and not one particular locality. In employing relief workers they were merely acting as other public bodies acted; and on behalf of his colleagues on the board and himself he could say that they were one and all trying their best to act fairly in the matter. Last year the Harbour Board had employed a large number of men for a lengthy period in an effort to ease the position regarding unemployment. This year, in common with other similar bodies, they were confronted with many difficulties owing to greatly diminished revenue and as a consequence their operations were naturally more restricted. As a member of the Bluff Unemployment Committee, Mr Dixon said he could endorse the remarks. of his Worship the Mayor as to the limited powers of that body. In a position such as had arisen in the present case they had no say, but merely had to obey the Act relating to employment of relief workers. If the local committee had wider powers the position would be more satisfactory, but as it was at present no blame was attachable to the Bluff members for any hardship created by the Act. In answer to a question, the single workers present said they were quite willing to work for nine shillings a day if full time was assured them. The spokesmen further asked that they be allowed a representative on the local Unemployment Committee, and this was readily granted. The men thereupon carried a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mr Dixon for the courteous and sympathetic hearing they had given the deputation and withdrew, after being assured by Messrs Doyle and Dixon that the latter and their fellow members of the Bluff Committee would do all in their power to rectify the position locally. Deputation to Mr Hargest. Another opportunity for Bluff relief workers to state their case has been arranged for to-day. At 2.30 p.m. a ’.eputation from the local unemployed will be met in the bandroom by Mr J. Hargest, M.P., who is attending to matters concerning the Awarua electorate during the absence of Mr P. A. de la Perrelle. Mr Hargest will go fully into the cause of the present, dissatisfaction and, failing local adjustment, will convey the representations of Bluffs relief workers to the. Minis-' ter for Unemployment in Wellington.