WALKING TIME CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 158, 6 July 1937, Page 10

WALKING TIME CLAIM.

ACTION BY UNION.

"RIDICULOUS," SAYS CHAIRMAN

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Monday, Test claim* for "walking time" amounting to 10/ a day for a period of 105 days are to be made upon the Havvke'3 Bay Rivera Board on behalf of two employees engaged on the Xgaruroro River scheme. Members of the board to-day described the claims as being unreasonable, ridiculous and outrageous, and said it wag only a taste of what was to come. Notice of the claims came before the board in a letter from a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of the General Labourers' Union. The letter advised that there were 70 claims in all, and it was the intention of the union to bring forward two test cases. "I say these claime are ridiculous," said the chairman, Mr. C. Las sen. "Since the men have been on contract they have earned 22/ a day, and now the board is being a«ked for 10/ a day walking time for 105 days. It is unreasonable and ridiculous." Mr. R. E. Talbot: Outrageous! The chairman explained that since December 14 an allowance of 8d a day bod been paid. Recently a conference was held with representative* of the union regarding this matter, when a request was made that the amount should bp increased to 1/3 a day. It was now for the board -to decide whether it should continue to pay 8d or increase thnt amount. Mr. W. H. Campbell: They are out to i)sht Us to the last farthing. Reasonable or unreasonable, there ie to be a fijrlit, bo why give in now? A motion was then carried that the tonrd <?lir>nlcl adhere to paying the allowance of g<l a day.