“NOT NAVVIES”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3254, 19 April 1943, Page 3

“NOT NAVVIES”

returning servicemen

R.S.A. NOT SATISFIED

REHABILITATION DISCUSSION

“We are not bringing back a bunch of navvies”, said Cr. G. L. Burmester, as a member of the Morrinsville R.S.A. when speaking on the discussion on rehabilitation at the meeting of the Morrinsville Borough Council recently. Cr. Burmester was speaking after Cr. D. Johnson had given an outline of the meeting held in Hamilton and the council was discussing the proposed formation of a Rehabilitation Committee in Morrinsville.

“I strongly oppose any scheme for forcing that (nawying) type of work on to men,” continued Cr. Burmester. He contended that the R.S.A. was the prime mover in matters affecting the welfare of the returned men .and that local bodies were not in a position to offer a suitable type of work to the returned men. The R.S.A. should be given the job of setting up the committees.

Cr. Johnson, who represented the Borough Council at thje patriotic meeting in Hamilton, at which matters relating to rehabilitation were discussed, gave a report of the meeting |o the council, and it was moved that the council’write to Mr M. Moohan, chairman of the Rehabilitation Board, asking for further information concerning the setting up of a Rehabilitation Committee in Morrinsville.

The town clerk, Mr A. G. Strahan, supplementing Cr. Johnson’s report, said a technical committee to plan rehabilitation for the entire area in the postal district of Hamilton had been set up. No decision had yet been given, however, as to whether the proposed Morrinsville committee would be independent of, or subservient to, the central committee at Hamilton or Thames.

Discussion took place bn the position of the R.S.A., and Cr. Burmester made the comment quoted above. Replying to J Cr. Burmester’s remarks, Cr. Johnson said that while credit must be given to the R.S.A. for the work they had done they were only one organisation. The local bodies had been written to and asked to submit proposals for works considered suitable for men coming back.

There would be a variety of men comr ing back and employment would have to be found ,fpr these men until they were able to get started. The only way which he considered would be satisfactory would be to obtain a cross-section of the community on the committee. That would 'be the only way in which the interests of those coming back could be served. ■Cr. Burmester held that the R.S.A., with the help of the local bodies, could adequately deal with the matter. A big committee was not needed. Saying that the local bodies had to finance the schemes and provide the administration, Cr. B. Chapman supported Cr. Johnson in his contention that the local bodies should handle the job.

Supporting Cr. Burmester, Cr. H. F. McConnell said that the local bodies were only interested in nawying ■ work and not interested in the var-

iew work which would be desired by the returning men. The motion —that Mr Moohan be written to—was passed.