DEMAND FOR WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 6

DEMAND FOR WORK

COMPLAINTS AT RAETIHI MEETING GOVERNMENT & OFFICIALS CRITICISED. NUMBER OF SINGLE MEN UNEMPLOYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) RAETIHI. This Day. The Raetihi section of the New Zealand Workers’ Union has forwarded to the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, a protest against "the dilatory methods of departmental officials and the Government in providing a continuation of work for 150 men in the district.” A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the Raetihi section to which the Ohakune section sent delegates. A letter to Mr Savage draws attention to the termination, a month ago, of a metalling job, employing, mostly single men, since when the single men have been without work. Stumping work at Makaranui, on which mostly married men are employed, is stated to be finishing shortly and twenty of the married men have been offered work on the above mentioned metalling job, where only single accommodation is available. Complaint is made of lack of co-operation between the Public Works Department and workers and it is al ■ leged that Ohakune workers were told that there were a hundred families too many in the district. Mr Savage is asked whether this is in accord with the Government’s statement that men from the country districts should not go to the cities to obtain work. It is stated that there are a considerable number of unemployed single men in the district and that the numbers will be more than doubled this week. It seemed probable that a very large number of married men would be in the same predicament shortly afterwards.

MR SAVAGE AGGRIEVED “NEW AND CURIOUS METHOD.” WELLINGTON, This Day. “I have not seen the statement yet and consequently can make no comment” said the Prime Minister’ (Mr Savage) when the protest from the Raetihi workers was referred to him today. “I notice that it is dated June 17, which is a Saturday,” he added. “This is a new and curious method for a Labour organisation to state its grievances. I can hardly imagine that the head office of the New Zealand Workers’ Union will agree with this method of approach.”