MEN PAID OFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 19

MEN PAID OFF.

WELLINGTON COMPLAINT.

PREPARING SITES FOR HOUSES.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association,)

WELLINGTON, Saturday. •As announced by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. Webb, some time ago Scheme 13 came to an end last nigh*. Under this scheme the Employment Promotion Fund was used to eus>sidise the wages of mep who would not otherwise-have received full time" employment, and a fair number of men were employed under the scheme by the Housing Department.

Several of these men were paid off yesterday, and they claim there is no reason for their dismissal. Only a small percentage were over 00 years of age. The men had been excavating house sites and straightening up sections around completed houses. One of them said to-day that during the week several men were dismissed because the foreman said their work was not up to standard, and yesterday men over sixty were paid off. The Prime Minister had said these were to receive work during the next fortnight, but they had not been told where to go to get it. Some of the men on the job had complained and l>een told that the rest, with the exception of two or three, would be put off next week, he said. As there was at least nine months' work ahead the men considered they should have been retained. Houses could not !io built unless sections were prepared and the Government had made it clear that houses must be built Sβ fort as poenble. The men considered they should have been advised what they were to (k> for aa income in the future. i