The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1933. THE CAMP ISSUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1933. THE CAMP ISSUE.

In the endeavour to do the best for the unemployed, and at the same time seek to obtain some measure of return for the large expenditure going, on, the authorities have decided to utilise mar. ried men on more distant works from their honied, and camping oil the job has become inevitable. An outcry has been raised in certain quarters, and the re-echoes are being heard in other places. It is remarked that the alarm is being given before the men know what the conditions are to be, and in this attitude they seem to be backed up by members of the Dab our party in Parliament who are anything but helpful to the situation. There is a good deal of clap-trap talk and some ■of the terms familiar with soap box oratory are to be heard. We hear again about “exploiters' 1 ruining the country, and so on, yet the fact is that New Zealand has a very creditable record for its system of handling the issue. The country under the policy devised, is finding £BO,OOO per week for .relief. Several schemes for employment are in vogue, and no doubt much good is being done in the several spheres of operations. But much as is being done, it is not possible to provide employment in and about the cities of material value. The proposal to improve parks and streets are about exhausted, and the men must be sent further afield to be employed usefully. Hence the necessity for creating camns where work in the country can be done of public utility. There arc similar camps established in Westland, and matters appear to bo moving •smoothly. Good work is being clone, and we understand ‘the car ings exceed £3 r,o" week where the men are working on contract. Again with Dm mining, a, nominal riii-dd’,' is offered, but men go out and camp arcl work in the bnne of supplementing the subsidy with gold returns. Prr’mMv the "ionoor spirit of the old miner is still prevalent in this district, and it is in the region of the cities and centres where there is less individual enterprise to fao diflieulti-v- end 'problems. The v lingering of city liio with i'll i _ s nme' ities, has sr.np’d the resoureefrl noirit, and they leer to face an indi'udunl m"

Idem —lienee objeetinnf. Tin're will of course bo eases of hardship which

will and are being dealt with on their merits. That wu.s so in the war period when compulsion web in foice, but the majority of the men went uiduigiy to camp and accepted the conditions a* a matter of duty. Th.re is another period of stress at- hand now, calling tor the personal sacrifice and lceady there tire few if any .signs of revolt. In all tiie objections raked there is not one constructive aternative prepared by the objectors and the Labour backers. The latter seem to think there is'another opportunity for pulling down and causing disruption, but the occasion is too serious to be trifled with. The authorities realise their obligation in the matter. They are providing, money and useful work, and call on the worklose to seize an opportunity, which no other country offer-; to its unemployed. The offer is being spurned in some cased where there is , the attempt to make political capital for expediting . labor at polling time. We are persuaded that the serious minded will realise that what ir, being clone is the best that can be clone with the money available’and that the country is discharging its obligations in the matter in a humane manner.