SHELTER TENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 8

SHELTER TENTS.

• To the Editor. Sir,—l think that I am expressing the opinion of many relief workers in stating that they strongly resent the statements of Crs. Gilkison and Ball made at Monday evening’s council meeting in regard to the union’s application for shelter tents on the jobs. Cr. Gilkison’s statement about musterers is ridiculous as there is no comparison between the jobs as the men on relief work in gangs of twenty to thirty within a quarter of a mile of each other. Who ever heard of musterers out in wet weather? If they are they have good oilskins and leggings and are well-fed, while we poor unfortunates often have no overcoats and are underfed and in no condition to stand up to weather as they are. As for the council being made a laughing stock over this matter, let me point out that the Public Works Department has supplied tent flies at Duck Creek and that the Education Board has promised shelters where required. Cr. Ball’s statement about permanent shelters is also absurd, as all that was asked for was tent flies that could be erected and taken down in five minutes and easily carried anywhere. Surely we men are entitled to a minimum of comfort in eating our meals, not only from the rain but also the wind which we have been experiencing out in ■ the open 1 during this last few weeks. In reply to a letter in this morning’s issue signed “Relief Worker” this is a member of the association attempting to decry the work of the union. The shelters he mentions are semi-perman-ent and are useless when the men shift any distance away' from them. The union does not flout what it is doing and advertise every little deputation in the papers but works quietly and more effectively and reports its doings to a general meeting every month.—l am, etc., “EXECUTIVE.”'