RELIEF WORKERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 311, 26 August 1932, Page 5

RELIEF WORKERS

STRANDED IN TOWN NO STEPS SO FAR TAKEN FOR TRANSPORT TO HOMES SIX SPEND NIGHT IN CELL'S * So far no definite information is available as to the steps which are to be taken with regard to the 38 mea who were discharged from the single men's State forestry camp on the Kaingaroa Plains last Tuesday. As previously reported the men refused to face the intense cold 012 Tuesday and carry on the work of the planting, with the result that they were discharged and paid off in Rotorua. On Wednesday night the men were provided with accommodation at the doss-house, but the Relief Workers' Association had no money available for the provision of food. With the | object of having the men returned to 1 their places of domicile, an appeal j was made to the member for the disj trict, Mr. C. H. Clinkard, to ascer- ; tain if assistance could be obtained j for this purpose from ihe Gov-ern-j ment. Mr. Clinkard at once responded by wiring to the Minister for Employment (Hon. Adam Hamilton), setting out the position, but 1 last evening no answer had been received to his inquiry. Questioned on the matter the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, who is chairman of the Rotorua Unemployment Committee, last night stated that the trouble had not yet been officially brought under his notiee. The committee, hov/ever, meets this evening, and if necessity arises the position ; will be discussed. ' 1

Indiscreec Conduct In the msantime some of the men have been guilty of conduct which has not strengthened puhlic sympathy with their cause. Six of them became so intoxicated on Wednesday afternoon that they were arrested by the police and subsequently made such a disturbance in the cells that rumours became current that serious trouble had developed. The police, however, had the situation well in hand and there was 110 cause for alarm regarding an organised disturbance. A number of the other men congregated outside the police station, but they were, more or less, in search of tickets of admission to the doss-house and not demonstrating- in favour of their companions under arrest. Yesterday morning, five of these offenders appeared before Mr. A. W. Downer, J.P., charged with drunkenness, and were convicted and discharged. The sixth man was so ill that he required the services of a doctor and was removed from the cells to the hospital. Yesterday the town was quiet and it is understood that several of the men are trying to get away by their own resources. Temporary Reinfovcements The rumour current that the police force has been largely strengthened is not correct, but three constables from outside districts have been temporarily stationed in Rotorua. This is, however, purely an official precautionary measure, as there appears no ground for anticipating -anything in the nature of organised disturbance, as the majority of the men do not approve of the indiscretion of their offending camp companions.