STRUCK WORK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 434, 19 January 1933, Page 3

STRUCK WORK

PRINCIPLE AT STAKE NEW PLYMOUTH iRELIEF MEN SAY RSING USED FOR PROFIT. AN ABUSE OF FUNDS. i When the relief workers who have been engaged on work at the Bell Block aerodrome came back to their work on Monday morning, and were set to work erecting fences near the harigar, in connection with the arrangements for the landing of the Southern Cross, two men protested on the ground that it would be an abuse of the funds of the Unemployment Board to spend them on work that would result in the making of private profit (says the Taranaki Herald). The men had previously been employed in doing levelling work under the No. 5 scheme, and yesterday they were set to the work of erecting fences to provide necessary enclosures for the Southern Cross, and some of th'em took the view that this would be wrong, and a misuse of the funds for the benefit of the visiting airman. When the two men refused work on this ground they were at once told by the foreman to leave the job. Their places were not filled, but the work was carried on by the other members of the gang,, and the men were not given work elsewhere, panding consideration of the position by the Unemployment Committee. this morning. Representations on the matter were made to the chairman of the committee (Mr. J. Brown), who stated that it was for the committee to deal . with.

At its meeting this morning, the two men concerned, Messfs. G. C. James and J. Scott, appeared before the local Unemploymen| Committee to state their case. ifhe complaint, as stated above, was outlined. "I object to being used as a tool to waste public money," said Mr. Scott, "and there are 40 more men at the aerodrome who will 'come out' if they get the word. There has been a waste of public money on unemployment work at the aerodrome and in New Plymouth generally. I will write Mr. Coates and t-ell him so." Referring to the fences, Mr. Scott asked: "Where did you get authority to do the work?" The time was not one for ethical ohjections, said Mr. R. W. D. Robertson. If these men had genuine conscientious ohjections they were perfectly entitled to act upon them. It seemed doubtful whether the men had refused to work or had heen dismissed. It was remarked hy Mr. ^cott that neither he nor his companion had any wisli to come before the committee. "We didn't ask to come," he said. "We were told to come and we've heen kept j hanging about for two hours, since 9.30." F ollowing a hearing of their complaints, the men withdrew. It was decided to ask New Plymouth Aero Club to state its side of the case, and a decision was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary.