FEILDING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 14 December 1932, Page 4

FEILDING.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. ‘‘OVER THE FENCE” SCHEME. The recent complaints alleged to have been made by about 20 or 30 relief workers in Foilding in regard to their treatment on “over the fence” schemes, and also the resignation of Mr I). M. Byrne, the.relief workers’ representative on the committee, as the outcome of the receipt of the complaints, were dealt with at yesterday’s meeting of the Feilding Unemployment Committee. The Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) presided, and there were

also present Rev. Canon F. H. Petrie and Rev. Mr Copeland, Messrs N. C. Harding, T. K. Hay. W. H. Olliver, P. G. Guy, T. Watson, V. E.' Smith, A. Campbell, L. T. McLean, C. Clark and J. S. Tingey. An apology for absence was received from Mr C. Hausmann. The first matter dealt with was the resignation of Mr Byrne. At the request of the chairman Mr Harding read to the committee statements obtained from the men who had signed a letter appearing in the Press that they had made complaints as to the treatment received while engaged on “over the fence” work. These men had been interviewed after the letter appeared and generally, stated that they had not made 'any complaint to Mr Byrne about having lost any work. They had all been asked by Mr Byrne to either make complaints or sign the letter. Some of the men had worked at the High School, which it was pointed out was not a farmers’ “over the fence” scheme, the chairman stating that no one could consider it as such. Mr Guy wanted to know whether the trouble had not arisen through the chairman and Canon Petrie inferring that Mr Byrne had not received any complaints. In replVj, Mr Taylor said that Mr Byrne had reported that the complaints came from men employed on “over the fence” schemes and in regard to this he had said he had received twenty or thirty such complaints. Mr Taylor’s views on the matter were that he had informed Mr Byrne that any complaints had to be made in writing and would be investigated by the sub-committee for the purpose of handling this part of the business. Alleging that Mr Guy had put words into his mouth. Canon Petrie said that Mr Byrne had been asked how many complaints he had received replying, “Twenty or thirty.” The speaker had then said he doubted if that number of complaints had been received. Mr Taylor added that he had remarked that he could not believe it. The resignation of Mr Byrne was then received and accepted without■ further discussion. The meeting then considered a letter from the Feilding relief workers stating that the relief workers wish to record their gratitude and thanks to Mr Byrne for his fearless and honest labours on their behalf; also that they wish to record that they had the utmost confidence in his truthfulness and integrity; also that the workers wish to record their disgust at the treatment meted out to their representative by the chairman (Mr Taylor) of the

Unemployment Committee, also Canon Petrie at the last monthly meeting. Further, the relief workers of Feilding had no confidence whatsoever’ in the chairman of the Unemployment Relief Committee, the letter stated, the contents being a resolution carried at a meeting.

The Mayor said the committee was doing its utmost for the relief worker and while he had no personal feelings about xt he considered the committee should not receive the communication. Canon Petrie stated that he understood that the resolution contained in the letter had been carried at a meeting of about 30 of the relief workers. Of the total of 140 relief workers in Feilding about 33 were returned soldiers, and as president of the Feilding branch of the R.S.A. Mr Harding (secretary of the committee) dissociated the ex-soldiers from the whole subject. Further, Mr Harding had information to the effect that only 28 or 30 relief workers had attended the meeting and of these only one was a returned man. After referring to the help the Mayor had given the R.S.A., Mr Harding declared himself against the committee receiving such a letter. Mr Tingey also held the opinion that the letter should not be received, and moved in that direction. Mr Campbell seconded the motion, adding his appreciation of Mr Taylor’s work on the committee and his interest in relief workers generally. Support for the motion was also forthcoming from Messrs McLean, V. E. Smith and Thos. Watson. Mr Taylor was unable to believe that the majority of the relief workers were behind the resolution as expressed in the letter. He had done his utmost for the men and would continue to do so, and suggested that Mr Tingey’s motion might be enlarged by adding that any individual complaints from the relief w r orkers would continue to receive due consideration from the committee. The motion was carried.

CARD PARTY. The Feilding Labour Party’s weekly card evening again attracted a large attendance, the funds in aid of distressed freezing workers benefiting considerably. The prizes for the card games were won by Mrs Knight (ladies) with Mrs Greener second, and Messrs Reid and S. Margetts were the winners in the men’s section, while lucky numbers were won by Mrs Strawbridge and Mr E. Fisher. A competition was won by Master B. Blasket, and prizes for novelty dances went to Mr and Mrs James and Mr and Mrs Thurston. NOTES. To-morrow afternoon the Manchester and Lytton Street Schools break-up for the Christmas holidays, and suitable functions to mark the occasion have been arranged at each school. It was announced at yesterday’s meeting of the Feilding Unemployment Committee that Mr Deslandes, of Feilding, had donated twelve sheep to be distributed amongst distressed families in Feilding during Christmas. It was stated that Mr Deslandes would have the sheep cut into joints ready for cooking. The thanks of the committee were expressed to the donor for his generosity.