DRIVERS' LICENSES DECLINED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 84, 25 June 1943, Page 5

DRIVERS' LICENSES DECLINED

COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION

ATTITUDE TOWARDS DETAINEES

G A LA TKA CONTROVERSY -*—(I An echo of the recent discussion in the press concerning the replacement of Maori employees' of many years standing, by men from the Strathmore Military 'Objectors Camp, at Galatea Estate, was heard in the debate 'on the question of supplying • such men with drivers licenses, at the Whakatane County Council meeting last Tuesday. The •outcome was the unanimous decision not to issue licenses) to such men and to bring the whole position to the notice of the Minister concerned. The matter arose Avhen several •cases for prosecution under breaches ••of the traffic regulations Avere under review. The recommendation of the Finance Committee Avas to the clfcct that no action be taken in three instances. This brought Cr Cawte to his feet declaring that in -certain instances the prosecutions had been taken against defaulters from the Strathmore camj) avlio Avere now stationed at. Galatea. These • men, he said, Avere employed, by the Lands and Survey Department, and had replaced men avlio had been working on the Estate for 15 and 20 years and who were dismissed in •order to make, the Avork available. The whole countryside Avas fed up to the ba?k teeth, to see the manner in Avhich they droA-e Governnient around, to meet their friends. -He. added that they Avere permitted •to go deer stalking and pig hunting tin the bush. Work at 1/3 Per Day The chairman (Mr L. Burnett): Are they good avo fleers ? Cr CaAvte: T o, 'you don't expect them to be. do you? If they lurve a foreman they don't like, they loaf •oil the job and lie gets the raj). The chairman: Do they get any "pay ? -V.. Cr Cawte: Yes "1.3 a day, but the A station has to provide them with accommodation and. I think meat. They are supposed,-., to be improving .the * -country for returned men to settle on. If you are going to let these fellows off- their prosecution Avliy .not let. everybody o(T. They are Government servants, and if the -Government doesn't /k)io\v the Uiav hoAvi'.ean priA-ate intUvHduals be expected to do so. Cr Cawte said that in any case he disapproved of the council issuing drivers licenses to

conscientious objectors, as they "were supposed , to lie con lined, people . Question of Principle Cr Hunter .considered on principle that the council should , make a stand and refuse to issue licensed -to conscientious objectors, chairman: L don't, see how we can. They ha.vg. not been-,depriv-ed of civil rights. The authorities are to blame: The men are merely doing sys tirej" are told. Cr Cawte: -.I* admit that, but I still think we should protest. Cr Luxton said he strongly sn:).ported Cr Cawte's contentions, adding that he. did not wish to be sii;ting on any council which was jireMTcd to :cHtnv this -sort of thing 4''- "** ■ to'go on. lie Avould like to see the matter taken up Avith the heads. Cr McCready declared such action was hopeless because many of our legislators as young men were tarred Avit.li ■.t|£ same brush and were detained ?in the same way. It's a D — Shame Cr Burt was most forceful in his -criticism. "Its a d shame,'' lie said, il to see these fellows having a .good time while, our own boys are laying down their lives, in their defence. I'd put them all in the front line —that's Avhat I'd do with them." Cr Cawte: Before granting licen-

ses to these men, we should at. least •object strongly to the Minister of "Transport. The chairman: Ji take it that these men requke licenses in order to -carry out theii 1 work for the. Lands Department ? ■ Cr Cawte absented. Cr ; ,-McCready: v The Government lias simply 'dismissed their old employees to give preference for kt labour. A Waikato Parallel Cr Hunter declared that the same -i*>rt of thing-was going on all over -the country. He cited a case which

he claimed lie could substantiate. At Ruakura several conscientious objectors were sent to assist in the work. Two of the original employees who had been there for 20 years objected to working Avit.li. the newcomers. An officer from "Wellington had come up to iiwestigatc the position with the result that they sacked the men Avho had been there for 20 years. Cr Lux ton said it was olnious that the Government Avas spreading these men around the country so that the.y would be lost sight of and. Avould easily gel back into civil life. Discussing the. Galatea position again. Cr Cawle said lie. Avould like to knoAV how many of our own boys oil final leave would be given Government trucks to drive, all over the country in, as Avas. being done for the men from the C.O. camp ! Make a Stand Cr McGougan considered it time the council made a firm stand, and irrespective of the consequences refuse to grant the drivers licenses. The chairman: But avlio are Ave to get at ? It's the authorities Avho are to blame ! Cr Hunter: Well, let us be one county at least that llatly refuses to grant the licenses! The council then framed and passed the I'olloAving resolution: — That this council refuses to grant drivers -licenses to detainees at Galatea,, on whose behalf the detention camp authorities had 1 applied.