CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3670, 26 July 1927, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

(To the Editor)

Sir. —Please grant me space in which to ventilate a matter that was. dealt with at the last Council meeting. Sir, having been on the unemployed list for some months and at the same time getting what casual work the Council was doing,' one day when on my way to town I met Mr. Neville who was engaged in cleaning out a blocked sewer in Johnston Street. I asked him the reasos why non-ratepayers where employed and he informed me that the Town Clerk had instructed him not to employ me. I ’ wanted to know the reason and I approached the Mayor on the matter and: was told that it would be stopped at once, but according to “Fair Play” it is still going on. Now Sir, I went further'. I attended the Council meeting and asked what power the Town Clerk had to give instructions to the foreman that I rvas not to be employed by him and. after a deal of useless talk he admitted having said so and on the motion of Councillor Walker was asked to give an explanation pf his action, but Councillor Thompson did not see the reason for an explanation to a ratepayer. Now Sir, this is the first time in my life that a boss has been told not to employ me as a workman. I think everybody in Foxton knows me and with a pick and shovel or at any other work although 00 years of age, I am still as good as ever. Now, Sir, as far as experience goes, mine is not from book knowledge but from practical work, which the Foxton sewerage scheme had not. I was employed by the Pamlerston North Borough Council, by the Feilding Borough Council and by various States Councils in America and in Australia and come to a tin-pjot scheme which will always be a source of heavy expense to the ratepayers and told by the Town Clerk that I am not to be employed. If the Town Clerk answers this letter I have a bit to tell the ratepayers of Foxton. Yours, etc., / H. P. JACOBSEN. [WE submitted the above complaint to the Town Clerk who slates that he has no recollection of having told the foreman that he was not to employ Mr. Jacbbsen, although ihe remembers some months ago telling the foreman that complaints had been made about one particular individual getting all the casual work offering and suggesting to Mr. Neville that such casual work should be divided up: —Ed. H.j Sir. —In your last issue a correspondent “Fair Play,” complains because the Council gave employment to non-ratepayers while ratepayers were idle. I take it, sir, that a. man with a family to keep and who has not been able to purchase a home but has been a resident of the town for some years has as much right to ha given a chance on casual work as the more fortunate ratepayer. The rent payer pays rates, as, the rates are included in his rent. Other things being equal, sir, I think the man with a family ■ to keep whether he is a ratepayer or pot, provided he is a resident, should be given preference. Thanking you in anticipatiin. I am, etc., WORKER.