CAMPS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 10

CAMPS FOR UNEMPLOYED

ABSENCE FROM TARANAKI. MINISTER REPLIES TO UNION. In response to a resolution from the sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at Stratford expressing regret that no camps for single unemployed men had been established in Taranaki, the chairman of the Unemployment Board, the Hon. S. G. Smith, has written to the secretary of the Stratford executive, Mr. H. A. Hunt. “I desire to inform you that such camps are being established in proximity to secondary highways which have been selected by the Main Highways Board, acting in conjunction with the Public Works, as suitable works to be undertaken under the latest scheme for tho relief of unemployed single men,” the Minister said. It would be apparent, he continued, that the Unemployment Board had no decision in the locating of the works under the scheme. He offered the assurance, however, that the claims of Tarana' i would not be overlooked when the board found it possible to establish camps for carrying out works of a developmental nature. ELTHAM BUSINESS CIRCULARS. QUESTIONS ASKED IN COUNCIL. That the council should have first notified the public that it was accepting business circulars for despatch with the picture advertising circulars was the contention of Cr. Peebles at_the Eltham Borough Council meeting on Friday. He considered that the public had been kept in the dark and even some of the councillors did not know that it was being done until they had received another member of the council’s business circular along with the picture circular. Cr. Coward also thought that the matter should have come before the council first. Both councillors said they had no objection to the scheme, but only to the manner in which it was inaugurated. The Mayor, Mr. J. J. Bridger, defended the council’s action.' He said there was nothing “underhand” about it. Cr. Peebles: I made no suggestion that it was underhand, only that it had been “kept in the dark.” The Mayor said the scheme had originated with the manager, who had consulted the chairman of the hall and pictures committee. Cr. Coward: As late as to-day the chairman of that committee said he knew nothing about it. Cr. Ricketts: The manager called on me in regard to the matter but I was out of town so he went ahead with it. As for asking the man in the street whether we should send out a circular 1 am not going to do it. The manager should have some power of discretion in these matters.

PERSONAL ITEMS. \ . Mr. and Mrs. F. Casey, Eltham, are leaving to take up residence at Napier. Prior to her departure Mrs. Casey was farewelled by the committee of St. Joseph's Tennis Club. In making the presentation of a silver cream jug the Rev. Father McDermott referred to Mrs. Casey’s long association with the club. Both as R member of the committee and as a player Mrs., Casey had always given of her best, and for that reason the committee felt they could not let her depart without some recognition of her services. Sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr. R. E. Plews, county foreman, was extended by the Stratford County Council on Saturday. “Mr. Plews, who was killed by a fall of metal at the Manaia Road pit, has been in the service of the council sines he was a boy and he was one of our ablest men,” said the chairman, Mr. T. R. Anderson. GENERAL ITEMS. “A Coalition Government has been formed and it is to be hoped that a better Government will result, as we know that the best brains of Parliament have got together to solve the problems with which this country is beset,” said Mr. J. W. Monullan at the annual meeting on Saturday of the Stratford branch of the Girl Guides Association. His remarks followed his statement that the movement had made steady progress during the past year though conditions generally had been unfavourable. “There is not the slightest doubt," he said, “that New Zealand depends for its prosperity upon the primary producer and all that he stands for. Some of our secondary industries are only expensive luxuries.” He considered further steps would have to be taken to effect more economies because the limit to taxation had almost been reached. “The members of the Cardiff branch of the Farmers’ Union appreciate the substantial reduction in rates in the West Rid* ing for the ensuing year and wish to thank the council for its action," stated a lettef received by the Stratford County Council on Saturday from the secretary of th® branch, Mr. H. Clemow. Eighty-four unemployed workers wer® on Stratford borough works during lass week, and the payment on Saturday was £155 2s. Thirtj r were at the mountain, five at the demonstration farm, and 24J in the county. The county council paid £4O 3s 6d. One hundred macrocarpa trees are to be planted on the south side of the Eltham gasworks, according to a decision of the Eltham Borough Council. The object is to protect the works from the cold winds which cause a drop in the temperature of the retorts. The Eltham Borough Council agreed to co-operate with the Eltham Fire Board in carrying out a fire prevention drive as suggested by the Government-