FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 6 October 1933, Page 4

FEILDING

[UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

ACTION OF RELIEF WORKERS

DISCUSSED

The Unemployment Committee met yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) presiding. Also present were Messrs A. Campbell, W. W. Andrews, N. C. Harding, T. K. Hay, P. G. Guy, C. Clark, V. E. Smith, T. Glen and J. S. Tingey. The first matter before the committee was that of the application , of the Feilding relief workers for two- men to unload coal on. behalf of their own organisation, this application having been held, over from the previous meeting, when the application had been sent on to the Unemployment Board for a ruling. At the request of the chairman, the secretary (Dir N. C. Harding) read the correspondence [ that had been entered into. Mr. Harding first read the application of the relief workers for the two men, this letter being dated August 29 and dealt with by the committee at_ its meeting on September 7, rTvhen it was referred to the Commissioner for a ruling. On September 23 the Commissioner had. replied, stating that Hon. J. G- Cobbe had reported to the Commissioner the receipt of a telegram from Mr James, under date August 29, stating that the Feild. ing Unemployment Committee had refused the relief workers’ application. In a letter to the local committee the Commissioner said it would appear that the committee had only deferred consideration of the application and not refused it, and in any case the board’s view was that the particular work should be done in the relief workers’ own time. Dir P'G'be had been advised of this view which he, in turn, had communicated to Dir James.

Continuing his review of the correspondence, Dir Harding said that the telegram to Mr Cobbe was sent on the same day as the application for the two men was made to the committee, namely, on August 29. Dir James brought the letter to Dir Harding, who informed him that while two men had been made available on a previous occasion it was thought better to have the matter put in order by referring the application to the committee. The Mayor said that it was a very Seculiar situation. The letter from Dir ames was received on the same day as he sent the telegram to Dir Cobbe saying that the committee had refused his application. He was at a loss to understand why the telegram was sent.

Mr Glen said that-he had not received any intimation that the telegram had been sent and he felt that he should have been notified of both the letter and the telegram. Dir Taylor remarked that it was a serious situation if the committee was going to have telegrams sent such as the one under review. He did not suggest that “Dir Guy or Dir Glen knew anything about it.

Dir Guy: There must be some explanation.

The Mayor: ■ But can you explain why the telegram was sent on the same day as the letter was received?

In reply to Dir Guv. Dir Hay (the borough engineer) said that he knew nothing about the telegram. He had told Dir James that before granting any mote men to.unload coal the matter would have to go before the committee.

The Mayor : The matter has got to be cleared up. I view it very seriously. The first knowledge the committee had of the application was at its meeting on September 7, and I had seen the letter only the day before. The committee is not to be fooled in this fashion.

Dir Harding pointed out that the committee had never vet refused any application made by tbe relief workers where the request was a reasonable one. ,'' -

Dir Taylor sa.id that he absolved Dlessrs Guy and Glen from any responsibility in the matter. Di r Guy: There has been some misunderstanding.

The Dlayor: Where could there have been misunderstanding in a matter like this ?

Dir Taylor said he would like the matter referred to a small committee

who would go into it with Dir James. He moved that Dlessrs Smith. Tingey, Glen and himself be the committee with power t,o take such action as seemed reasonable in the circumstances. The meeting agreed to this without further discussion. ALLEGED THREAT TO BOROUGH OFFICER.

In a special report to the Unemployment Committee, Dir Hay stated that, as the result of abusive and insolent remarks made by a local relief worker, he had stood the man down. Dir Hay reported that the man had given a lot of trouble previously, but in view of family circumstances his conduct had been tolerated. His latest behaviour and remarks, however had been distinctly threatening to Mr Hay, and he had been stood down. Setting out the details of the ease in his report, Dir Hay said that the man had asked permission to vary his three days’ work to allow him to proceed to

Wellington to see about a job. Permission was given to do this, but on the day that he was supposed to be in Wellington Dir Hay had found that he had gone to the Dlarton races. Inquiries made by Dir Hay revealed that the man had never made the arrangements he had stated he had about going to Wellington, and that his application was untruthful. In consequence of this Dir Hay stood the man down for a day. Some days later the man came in and abused Mr Hay for some minutes, ending the interview with the statement that the borough engineer was trying to “put one over him,” that he never forgot a bad turn and, further, that “He was with a man in Wellington when a man named Dlatthews was stabbed in the back.”

The Dlayor said that he thought the committee should know of this letter and the reasons for the engineer’s action. It was really a matter for the Borough Council, for it could not have it officers threatened. As far as the council was concerned, the man would not be employed again. Dir Taylor said that the man had called on him and he (the Dlayor) had advised him to seek fresh pastures. He purposed informing the police of the position. He was sure Dlessrs Guy and Glen would not stand for those tactics. Dlessrs P. G. Guy and T. Glen concurred, and on their motion the action of the engineer in standing the man down was endorsed. REDUCTION IN ALLOCATION.

During the consideration of the regort of the certifying officer (Dir C. lark) on the unemployed registrations, the committee was informed that a reduction of about £34 had been made in the weekly allocation from the Unemployment Board consequent upon the approach of the summer season and the greater likelihood of work being available. Dir Clark said the figures were not for publication, but that the committee could be apprised of the position. The registrations for Feilding were reported by Dir Clark as follows: —Week ending September 9. 208; September IC, 205; September 23, 204 ; September 30, 207. Dir Guy remarked that they were not decreasing as he had expected they would, the chairman agreeing that he also would have’ liked to have seen a reduction.

Dir Guy thought that it was up to the relief workers'to voice a protest if they wanted to —in his opinion it was hardly right for the committee to move in this direction.

The chairman and Mr Tingey were in accord with a remark that the Unemployment Board was, so far as Feilding was concerned, expecting the seasonal increase in work available rather early—it. would have been better to have maintained the existing rate of allocations for another month before making a rut in them. Dir A. Campbell pointed out that slieepfarraers were mow at the stage where they bad to have extra labour

and there wap work offering alright if it was looked ter.

Dir Smith agreed, stating that the papers were “full of applications” from dairy farmers and others wanting labour, and if the men and boys would only leave town they could get the work. The committee discussed the matter further, following which it was decided to ask the board to restore the allocations until about the middle of. November.

LYTTON STREET SCHOOL,

DI.EETING OF CODIDIITTEE

The Lytton Street School Committee met last night. Present were Messrs Jas. Penney (chairman), Mrs M. Green, Dlessrs L. D. Miller, J. B. Stuart, N. C. Harding, J. S. Tingey and C. V. Jewell. An apology for absence was received from Dlrs Pearson. Dir W. C. Wilson, the headmaster, was also in attendance and reported as follows: The average attendance for the month was 282.6, or about 90 per cent, of the roll number. The attendance was low on account of an epidemic of influena which reduced the daily attendance by over 100. The roll now stands at 313, an increase of eight over that of the previous month. Dliss Cowan has been reappointed temporary assistant for the last term of the year. About 60 books have been added to our class libraries, being divided among classes 4, 5 and 6. With money voted by the Parents’ Association, a good number of pictures have been purchased for the classrooms and their appearance has accordingly been much brightened. We received a visit of inspection from Inspectors DlcDlurtrie and Dlerrington, who expressed themselves as well pleased with what they saw.

The inspectors’ report was also read to the committee, the portion dealing rvith the school itself stating that the general efficiency was very high and that the school was well organised and conducted. The atmosphere of the school was classed by the inspectors as very fine, while the beautiful grounds were described as a credit to the committee.

Discussing the report, Dir Tingey said it should be made known that the school had been awarded the meritorious distinction of a “very good” classification in the inspectors’ report. There were very few schools in the board’s area that obtained this award, and it was a distinct credit to Dir Wilson and his staff that they should have been successful in maintaining the past high record of efficiency that the school had always obtained. There was onlv one higher award—excellent—and this, Dir Tingey said, was very rarely given. To the committee it was very gratifying that the school should again have such a splendid report The chairman endorsed the remarks of Dir Tingey and conveyed to Dir Wilson the appreciation of the committee at the success he and Iris staff had obtained.

For the visiting committee, Dlrs Green reported that on paying a visit to the school everything had been found in splendid order, the grounds being beautifully clean. The reports were adopted.

The committee unanimously decided not to link itself with the Palmerston North and District School Committees’ Association, considering that no value could accrue to the school from such a move.

The subject of religious exercises at the school on each morning was discussed by the committee and a motion approving of the principle carried. A committee consisting of the chairman, the secretary and the headmaster was appointed to bring down a report to the next meeting on the form the exercises should take. The committee decided to forward a letter ,of sympathy to Master Dl. Christian, the schoolboy who had the misfortune to break his leg while playing some time ago. It was reported that he was making good progress.

The chairman reported that he had received requests from the general public to use the school tennis courts, and Dir Penney was desirous of liav-

ing the opinion of the committee on the subject. It was unanimously agreed that the courts should be used by none but the school children and under the supervision of a teacher.

The committee granted Dliss Chambers one month’s sick leave. Dliss Smith is relieving in her stead. Dlessrs Penney and Stuart were appointed a visiting committee for the month. The committee decided to close the school for a full day on Friday, November 3, to allow pupjs and teachers to visit the Dlanawatu Spring Show. Eulogistic reference was made to the work done by Dir T. Green in the beautifying of the school grounds, and a motion expressing the committee’s appreciation to him was carried. It was also agreed to pay Dir Green £1 for the use of his horse and dray.

BOWLS.

The Feilding Bowling Club will be represented at the opening of the Foxton and Oroua Bowling Clubs tomorrow, the following being the rinks to travel:

To Foxton. —Downer, J. Rodgers, Barltrop, Williamson (skip). Oroua.- —Tingey, Nesbit, Wenham, W. Campbell (skip). The Feilding Club has also received invitations to be represented at the opening of the Northern and Dannevirke clubs next Wednesday; the Feilding and Dlanawatu Clubs on October 14, and at the opening of the Palmerston North and Woodville Clubs on October 18. It is expected that all the invitations will be accepted with the requisite rink.

COURT RETURNS.

The revenue received at the Feilding Dlagistrate’s Court by way of fees and fines paid during the quarter ended September 30 last (£122) shows a decrease of £79 from the £2Ol for the September quarter, 1932. The details of the business of the Court are a.s follow, the 1932 figures being shown in parentheses:—Number of sittings, 14 (21); civil cases heard 2 (4) ; distress warrants issued, 3 (5) ; judgment summons, 7 (15) ; warrants of committal 3 (2) ; criminal cases heard against males, 42 (87); against females 3 /0 ' : total fees and fines £122 Is (£201). in the civil business of the-Court 79

plaints were entered during the last three months compared with 76 for the, coresponding period a year ago. The total amount sued for was £920 4s Id (£l2Bl 11s) ; cases tried 37 (50); the total amount claimed in the caseS tried £529 18s 4d (£1499 6s 7d) ; total amount recovered £524 18s 4d. (£1291 14s Id).

BAND CODIDIITTEE

The committee of the Feilding Dlunicipal Band met last night, Dir T. Collins presiding. Also present were Dlessrs E. A. Garlick, I. H. Hope, 0. Scotney, H. Wilkinson, W. 11. Clayton, N. C. Harding and the conductor (D'lr E. Hastie). The meeting agreed to enter the band in the queen carnival in Feilding as mooted at a meeting of combined sports bodies recently. The chairman reported that the Women’s Institute had agreed to help the band in staging concerts, etc., on a 50-50 basis of distribution of the profi to.

The conductor reported that during September there bad been 18 rehearsals of the band and two public performances given. The band was showing steady progress in all departments. The committee expressed its satisfaction at the report. Dlessrs Hope and O. Sporle were appointed a visiting committee for the month. The secretary was instructed to inquire of Hon. J. G. Cobbe as to when the combined bands art union wo?Id be likely to eventuate.

UNEDIPLOYED SOLDIERS

Dir N. C. Harding, president of the Feilding branch of the N.Z.R.S.A., made a statement this morning regarding the position of returned soldiers on the No. 5 scheme. The position was, lie said, that some misapprehension existed concerning the relief scheme conducted by the iocal R.S.A. and the Unemployment Board’s schemes and lie wished it to be definitely understood liy the men that money earned under the R.S.A. relief scheme had to be shown in the six-monthly return to the certifying officer. So that these earnings would not affect their position on the No. 5 scheme, however, the Commissioner of Unemployment had laid it down that such earnings would not be taken into account when the recipient was having work allocated

him under the No. 5 scheme,

The ruling briefly meant, said Dir Harding,'that the local R.S.A. scheme for unemployed, soldiers would not jeopardise their allocation of work on the No. 5 scheme.

NOTES

The many friends of Dir David Bell, “Strathspey,” Feilding, will be glad to learn that early in the week, accompanied by Dlrs Bell, he returned home from Hamner, having made an excellent recovery from his recent severe illness.

Dlembers of the Df.ortgagors Relief

Commission at present sitting in Feilding received a pleasant surprise yester. day in the course of their duties. Owing to the illness of the principal party in a case before the Commission, his daughter appeared to give evidence and to the surprise of all concerned answered all questions promptly and accurately from neatly kept books she had brought with her. It subsequently transpired that the young lady in question kept a thorough set of books on the accounts concerned in her father’s farm and, as a member of the Commission remarked, thereby made the work of the Investigation much more simple and accurate.