WORK IN COUNTY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18599, 7 September 1932, Page 4

WORK IN COUNTY.

PLEA FOR PREFERENCE. Relief Labour Problem. COROMAN DEL’S DIFFICULTY. CHAIRMAN SEES MR. FORBES. Mr Balfour Dawson, the energetic chairman of the Coromandel County Council, has this week in Auckland been urging upon the Prime Minister, the lit. lion. G. W. Forbes, the- advisability of relief workers being transferred from non-essen-tial employment in the city to the more profitable work of providing road access in the country, stressing the inability of county councils to secure sufficient unemployed men from the city to undertake important developmental work in the country.

Counties' Petition

On Monday Mr Dawson drew the Prime Minister’s attention to a circular issued by several local bodies, pleading for preference for essential country work. “We desire that a distinct, clear preference be given to the essential work waiting to be done in the country as against the non-essential work that is very largely being done by the unemployed in the cities,” the petition states. “The country work, whether on the roads or over the fence, will in .all cases improve the productive capacity of the land and increase the exportable surplus of our primary products, On the other hand in our opinion most, if not all, of the work now being done in the cities is creating liabilities rather than assets.”

Mr Dawson said that the experience of the Coromandel County Council was apparently typical. There were several camps prepared, but it was being found impossible to secure enough men to fill them. New Regulations Suggested.

Mr Dawson said it was felt that new regulations should bo introduced, instructing unemployment officers to draft compulsorily a far greater proportion of married men into camps than was at present possible. In a very large percentage of cases there was no hardship involved. Farmers were willing to help the men in camps to the fullest possible extent. They provided milk, butter and meat, either for nothing or at a nominal cost. Near many of the Coromandel camps there was good fishing to be had. In addition, meat pools had been established in the cities for the families, while arrangements had been made to supply them with vegetables. '“We have definite roading works ill our county,” said Mr Dawson. “There are lengths aggregating 25 miles on the Coromandel Peninsula, which are served only by bridle tracks. Only recently one settler in the district topped the Westfield market, so there is no doubt about the fertility of the land which requires this improved access.”

“No Work, No Pay.”

Mr Dawson said he understood that Mr Forbes, on his return from England, had laid down a policy of “no work, no pay.” . Yet, Mr Dawson said he had been informed that, if men’s services Avere not required by local bodies, sustenance was paid them, amounting almost to what they would receive if working. Mr Forbes: I am not aware that sustenance is being paid. A certain amount of meat is given away in cases where people are short. Then the Unemployment Board has taken over a certain amount of the work done by hospital boards. That was done to shift the burden from the Consolidated Fund through the hospital boards on to the special fund for the relief of unemployment. We have undertaken to see that no one starves but the instruction is, “No work, no pay.’’

Men Unwilling

Mr Dawson said he had applied at the Labour Department’s office in Auckland for men for country work, but he understood the men in the city were not willing to go.

Mr Forbes said he would inquire into the position before he returned to Wellington. “We want to get men on to reproductive works as soon - as possible,” said Mr Forbes in promising that the representations would have the Government's careful consideration.