RELIEF WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 22131, 27 September 1933, Page 16

RELIEF WORKERS

RIVERTON MEN’S COMPLAINTS. (From Our Correspondent.) A meeting convened by the Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter) was held in the Town Hall, Riverton, on Monday evening. when the workers were strongly represented, but the business people did not turn up as well as was expected. Messrs J. A. Martin and H. E. Philp, the council’s representatives of the local board, were also present. The Mayor said the meeting had been called, business people being invited, to hear the complaints of the unemployed. These would be*- considered by the meeting, and if agreed to, forwarded on to the proper authorities through their member (the Hon. A. Hamilton).

Mr H. Roberts said their chief complaint was the allocation of money. Riverton, he said, was not receiving the same treatment as some of the other districts, and maintained this was unjust. He had made inquiries elsewhere and ascertained that the ratio was more liberal there than here. At Gore a married man with three of a family was paid 40/-, and with two received 32/- per week; Wyndham paid 40/3 and 33/9; Tuatapere 45/- and 37/6, Orcpuki 35/- and 27/6, Riverton 32/and 19/4. From the foregoing he pointed out the local workers were receiving the lowest wages of the five districts mentioned, and they wanted to know the reason why. Mr Philp asked if the figures quoted were correct, and if so, the local men were not being fairly treated compared with other places. In reply, Mr Roberts said he was sure of the figures quoted as these were obtained from an authentic source.'

Mr Philp said they were given . to understand that all country districts were on the same footing. If the figures given are correct, then there was a discrepancy somewhere, and steps should be taken to have the allocation altered. His sympathy was with the men, many of whom were experiencing great difficulty in providing for their wives and dependents, and they were entitled to fair play.

On the motion of Mr Roberts it was resolved to forward to the Minister the list of relief wages paid in other districts and asking him to have the Riverton men more liberally treated.

Replying to an inquiry it was stated that the meat question at present did not meet with approval. Four carcasses of sheep were being received fortnightly, and this was divided between fifty men. The men asked for a weekly instead of a fortnightly supply. It was resolved to draw the board’s attention to the request for a weekly supply of meat, and also to make inquiries regarding obtaining manures, etc., to be used for gardening purposes.

Mr Roberts asked what had become of £l6, which, he believed, had been handed over to the Welfare Society? Mr Martin said the money mentioned was part of the proceeds of an art union, and it had been forwarded to the Welfare Society, an organization which deserved every encouragement and which was doing excellent work in alleviating distress. Over £3O had been paid out for relief. As regards the question of manures and garden produce, he said he was sure if a canvass were made of the country districts the farmers would not be found lacking in this respect. His firm and Messrs Helm and Dickson’s, whose vehicles visited certain districts, would give assistance. He suggested that the local organization of relief workers should appoint a representative who could make a visit of these centres and arrangements could be made for the delivery of the goods. In conclusion he said his sympathies were with the men, but he advised them to push their own barrow and take any work that was offered. He instanced a case where a man asked 14/6 a day for a certain work, while another one offered his services at 9/-, and needless to say, the latter secured the job.

The Mayor said the local board would make the necessary arrangements over the carting of anything offered from the country and provision would be made to have the produce fairly distributed among the different families. As regards the other requests regarding the allocation of money and an improvement in the meat supply representations would at once be made to the proper quarter and he trusted a satisfactory reply would be received. When that came to hand the men’s representatives would be informed accordingly.