Precipitate Complaint by Feilding Relief Workers

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7280, 6 October 1933, Page 3

Precipitate Complaint by Feilding Relief Workers

OVER REQUEST FOR LABOUR TO

UNLOAD COAL

At yesterday’s meeting of the Feiiding Unemployment Committee consideration was given the application of the relief workers for the services of two men to unload coal on behalf of the relief workers’ organisation. The secretary, Air N. C. Harding, explained that in a letter dated August 29 Air James, secretary to the relief workers, applied for two men and was told that the matter would be dealt with at the next meeting ol ! the general committee, which would be held on September 7. When the general committee met on September 7 it was decided to refer the application to the Commissioner of Unemployment in order to obtain a ruling on the question. The Commissioner of Unemployment. replied on September 23 advising that the Hon. ,J. G. Cobbo had reported to the commissioner the receipt of a telegram from Air James statin* that the Feilding Unemployment Committee had refused the application for the two men. In his letter the commissioner said that, it would appear that the Feilding Unemployment Committee had only deferred consideration of the application, and not refused ]t_ and In any ease the commissioner said, that the board's view was that the particular work should be dono in the relic! workers’ own lime. The Hon. .T. G. Cobbc had been advised of this view, which he had. communicated to Alt. James. Continuing .his review of the correspondence, Air Harding said that the telegram to Air Cobbc was sent on the same day as the application for the two men was made to the committee, namely, on August 29. Air James brought the letter to Mr 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 tho committee. The "Mayor (Air C. E. Taylor) said that it was a very peculiar situation. The letter from Air James was received on the same day as he sent tho telegram to Air Cobbc saying that the committee had refused his application. He was at a loss to understand why the telegram was seal. Al r T. Glenn said 1 hat he had not received any intimation that (he telegram had been sent, and ho felt that he should have been notified of both the letter and the telegram. Air Taylor marked that it was a serious situation if the committee was going to have telegrams sent such as the one under review. Air F. G. Guy: There must be some explanation. The Alayor: Bid. can you explain why the telegram was sent on the same day as the letter was received?

In reply to Air Guy, Air T. Tv. Hay f borough engineer, said that he knew nothing about the telegram. He had told Air James that before granting any more men to unload coal tho matter would have to go before tho committee.

The Alayor said the .matter had to be cleared up, as he viewed it very seriously. The first knowledge the committee had of the application was at its meeting on September 7, and ho had only seen the letter the day before. The committee was not to be fooled in this fashion.

Air Harding pointed out that the committee had never yet refused any application made by tho relief workers where the request was a reasonable one.

Mr Taylor said that he absolved Messrs Guy and Glenn from any responsibility in the matter. Mr Guy: Thero lias been some misunderstanding. Tie Mayor; Misunderstanding? What? "Where?

Mr Taylor said he ’would like the matter referred .to a small committee who.would wait on Mr James. He moved that Messrs Smith, Tingey, Glenn and himself be the committee, with power to take such action as seemed reasonable in the circumstances. The meeting agreed to this.