UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE RUATOKI AREA CAUSING CONCERN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 97, 10 June 1949, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE RUATOKI AREA CAUSING CONCERN

The question of unemployment in the Ruatoki area was discussed fully at a conference at Ruatoki on . Thursday when some solution to the D present situation was sought by Messrs McGlone and A. Gordon, of the National Service Department, y and Mr G. Thompson, Chief Engi- , neer, Works Department, Tauranga, when they met Mr J. Merritt, Supervisor, Ruatoki Maori Development Scheme, and Mr T. Tawera, of the Tribal Executive, in the Maori Affairs Department’s office. The purpose of the visit was to ease the position of unemployment which now exists in the district. After going through a list of names already prepared, 49 people were interviewed individually. Mr Thompson said that he could only take 15 married men with families for road, constructional works iir the area. After the interview a total of 27 agreed to take up employment at the Murupara State Forest, where a state paper mill is to be erected by the Government. It was further suggested that the Ruatoki Tribal Executive take up with the Department of Maori Affairs, Wellington, the question of erecting immediately suitable homes for married couples and families at Murupara.