SEASONAL WORKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1932, Page 5

SEASONAL WORKERS

CLAIM FOR RELIEF

M.P’s TO APPROACH MINISTER

(Per Press Association— Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 30.

Rdpresontions are feeing made to the Minister of Unemployment, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, by the Christchvireh Labour members of Parliament, regarding, the plight of seasonal workers and other intermittent workers who are’being,(refused relief work.

A joint deputation from the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union and the Unemployed Workers’ Movement-..wait-ed on the Deputy-Mayor (the- Rev; <L K. Archer) / and Messrs J. M’Combs, M.P-, 11. T. Armstrong, M.P., and E. J. Howard, M.P., urging that something should be done at once. It was stated that the patience of the 1 men was nearly exhausted and that they could not be blamed if -the breaking point was rfjiachod, • Another statement made was that it -was only in Canterbury where the men ’Were-’ being refused relief and that no complaints were being made in other , centres. Mr F. Grant, president of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, said that if a mftn who had been snagged in a continuous occupation lost his-'position, he was given relief work fourteen days after he became unemployed. "They desired that men engaged l in'- seasonal occupations should be given the same treatment as, after working for months, these men. did not have enough to carry them through the'period during which they were out of work. Many of the freezing workers were asking whether they were supposed to live at 'relief standards ifluiring Abe ; season, said the secretary of the Movement.

Another member said! that the earnings of seasonal workers oniyl kept them from week to week, and for the other six months of the year, they had nothing to live on, yet they were comnelled to pay the unemployment levy. He was of the opinion that as they paid the levy, they were entitled -to ■relief under the Unemployment Act.