PUBLIC WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS.

It is both tragic and amusing to note the great diversity of opinion regarding working' conditions of the above. Tragic because it proves to me (a Labour supporter) that the Labour Government is letting down badlv a lar-re body of men (i.e.. Public Works menl who wore largely responsible for putting them into power. It appears the State d'Mis not bind itself by any provision the Arbitration Court may make, so therefore we find the Public Works conditions and pav far below existing outride awards. It i< amusing because I. M. ( . .Tolinson claims he has earned the huge sum of C2lti in week*. Hut surelv he has to live lor .>2 weeks in the rear which makes an average of £4 3/ per week. this Mich a huge sum for contract work when some outside labourers" awards are pay in- £4 16' per week. And why does lie refer to the 10/ per week camp? There was a disastrous depression on then, and in any case, the workers look for and expect something better from T-ahour. \ our correspondent '"Once on I Relief seems to me to have a perverted sense ot justice and a not too logical mind. He remarks that men working for the Denartment seem to h>ok on their work as a lifelong jo . Well. I would sav that for a large number [of men the Public Works j* a lifolonr l"h. I I>V \ n - employees are all dojn? useful woik. for instance. they create roads |W iere tlieie are no roads: thev also construct raihrnys and bridge* which are all vital to the settlement of this countrv Whatever their opinion of the PAV.n.. these men consider they have a real grievance as to wagc«. j Nearly il2it.oftn.onn this vear fo r the P W D.. and it cannot sfford to 'pay the ruling rate. lit we note that publ'e >"r\auts with hue? | salaries have not a further inrrea-e. wbi-h i= j ( l"ite contrary to labours ci v [promises. JI'STH K.