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RELIEF CAMPS

MARRIED MEN THE COMPULSORY CLAUSE DEPUTATION TO MINISTER (Per United Press Association.) . Wellington, June 15. “We do not want to be hard on married men and their families. We realize they are having a difficult time now. We say that if the Public Works and Forestry Departments camps are manned voluntarily, nobody will be forced to go into camps. Those camps ought to be manned and they very likely will be manned,” said the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) in reply to a deputation from the Relief Workers’ Union which waited' on him to protest against compulsion being used for married men to go into camps. The deputation said there was no objection to married men voluntarily going into camps. Mrs Otham said that the wives of many of the relief workers strongly objected to their husbands being sent compulsorily to camps. At present the families of these men were practically on the bread line. What was the Government going to do for families who were left behind in a miserable position?

Other speakers gave instances of the distressed condition of families of many relief workers, which condition, it was asserted, would be made much worse by the breadwinner of the family having to leave his home and go into camp. In reply the Minister said he thought too much was being made of the compulsory element. He realized the worry and distressing conditions which existed in the homes of many of the unemployed. He stated there were men wanted in some camps to-day and it was difficult to get a full response. He could not see why there should be such a strong objection to going to those camps if the payment was fair and the conditions good. The Forestry Department wished to have trees planted now. It seemed strange there was difficulty in getting men to go into those camps. If the Public Works and Forestry camps were manned there would be no compulsion needed. He thought those camps would be filled and that would greatly relieve the present difficulty. The Government would try to get the camps manned in a voluntary way. After that was done, the position would be reviewed. ANTI-CAMP MOVEMENT A FIRM RESISTANCE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 15. Between 200 and 300 relief workers assembled outside the Town Hall this afternoon, but were prevented from entering by a posse of police. The men, who were quiet and well behaved, then adjourned to the Trades Hall where an orderly meeting, punctuated with a few fiery speeches, washeld. A resolution was passed to the effect that: “The militant unity of employed and unemployed be called upon to support the anti-camp movement to the last ounce.” MEDICAL NEEDS NELSON FEELING THE STRAIN. (Per United Press Association.) Nelson, June 15. There are at present 1000 unemployed from other parts of New Zealand in numerous unemployment camps established in Nelson district for roadmaking, gold-seeking, afforestation and hawthorn hedge cutting. The Hospital Board is feeling the strain of meeting the medical needs of the men and the chairman, Major R. Dagger, said it was apparent the machinery for placing the men in camps was in need of an overhaul. The men were sent, often to cold and wet localities not properly equipped. Some soon cracked up and came to hospital and were a liability on Nelson ratepayers. This would be a different matter if the men belonged to the Nelson area.

It was decided to place the matter before the Unemployment Board asking what assistance it would offer.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19330616.2.89

Bibliographic details

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 8

Word Count
594

RELIEF CAMPS Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 8

RELIEF CAMPS Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 8