TENSE POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1932, Page 5

TENSE POSITION

WORK REFUSED

RELIEF CAMP NEAR ROTORUA.

(Per . Press Copyright.)

ROTORUA, August 25. A difficult position has developed in regafd to the thirty-six single relief workers whid refused to work .on the Ivaingaroa Plains at the forestry camp, there on Tuesday on the grounds that they could not face the intense cold .prevailing. . The men were paid off at Rotorua, but, as a result of. their action in refusing to work on Tuesday, the .authorities state that they cannot accept the responsibility for' roturning the men to their homes. ; ■, ,'hV,At present these men are 'stranded in Rotorua, with very little money . and yjelry little (prospects ijf obtaining v/ork. The .local relief authorities have no additional resources beyond those Required for their , own , purposes and the difficulty will ha accentuated unless something is done. The Member for the district, Mr Ulirtkard, ha? placed the position before th]P. Minister; <for. Employment* but no reply haa so f.w been receiv* ed., 1 '“ : ‘ < 'Six of the men, on, their, arrival in town, came to .grips They wer® /..arrested on a charge of ((ntnkeness. They gave *pmo trouble in the police oells, and a body of their Comrades , congregated outside the police station in order to interview the 'Senior-Sergeant in charge. However, those arrested were considerably chastened when they made their, appearance before the. Court this morning, and they were, convicted and discharged, .v Y'"' • ' .. • As a - precautionary measure, .. police reinforcements from Hamilton .have arrived here to-day, but it is not expected that any . trouble ''will eventuate.. 1 The men state that their diothing i* insufficient in the irilenste cold on /the Kaingaroa Plain.'* Whfj the canips were first proposed there, representations were made to th? ’Unemplpyrnent Board to .assist the .men 4q obtain the necessary warm clothing, - 'but the Unemployment Board stated that it was unable to do anything, in this direction. .•/ . .