TROUBLE AT KAINGAROA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 311, 26 August 1932, Page 4

TROUBLE AT KAINGAROA

An unfortunate sitnatio has once again developed in regard to the forestry relief workcrs on the Kaingaroa Plains, and as a result, Rotorua is faced with the problem of accommodating 36 additional men who have left one of the canips on the grounds that they are unable to continue work under the severe climatic conditions. We have already emphasised the severity of these conditions, but given adequate cloth- ' ing, the men would have no more 1 cause for complaint than a great j many others in equally or even I more unfortunate circumstances. ! The men admit that they have no grievance v/ith the authorities so far as the camp conditions are concerned, but contend that they eannot continue work owmg to the intense cold, and the fact that they are insufficiently equipped with warm clothing. This is the second occasion within a month on which men have refused work in the Kaingaroa forestry camps for the | same reason, and whatever the merits of the case may be, the | matter demands more than the | official attitude of indifference i which is so far all that it has created. When it was first proposed to send single relief workers to these camps, we urged the necessity for proper clothing be- ! ing provided, but although the i matter was drawn under the atitention of the Unemployment Board, it disclaimed all responsi1 bility. The majority of the men for these camps were drawn ; from the cities and were hardly equipped to weather a winter ! under town conditions, much less i on the high exposed altitudes of j the Kaingaroa plateau. The men were unable to buy the necessary clothing themselves in the great majority of cases, but although a request was made for assistance the most that the board could proffer was the striking suggestion that the men should procure the goods from local retailers on credit. The result has been that very many of the men have been working insufRciently equipped, and with a definite sense of grievance, which has J been further accentuated by the activities of the malcontents and agitators who are always present in camps of this nature. All these various factors have combined to create the present trouble and as a result, the ranks of the unemployed in Rotorua have been swelled by 36 men nursing a sense of grievance, with very little money, and regarding whom, the authorities apparently disclaim all responsibility. The camp authorities were undoubtedly within their rights in refusing to be dictated to by the men. In their case, it simply resolved itself into a question as to whether the men or the officers of the Forestry Department were in control. The fact remains, however, that the attir tude adopted by the Unemployment Board has been a primary cause of discontent and that the 36 men have now been left stranded in Rotorua and likely to become a charge upon the local unemployment funds. The Rotorua Unemployment Committee has already a very large number of men on its hands and it is obviously not just to expect it to shoulder the respomibility. Until the pros and cons of the case are more fully known, the merits of the men's grievance cannot be assessed. Whoever is at fault, however, the authorities should not adopt too high-handed an attitude and refuse the men any means of returning to their homes. They are certainly strikers, but they are not a legitimate charge upon Rotorua and they are entitled to some consideration at least. So far the men have remained rea-

sonably quiet in their demeanour, but their presence in the town is a potential source of trouble unless some steps are taken to provide for them.