PUBLIC WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 300, 20 December 1938, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS.

Your correspondent "Hard Facts" is now [ trying to mix about a dozen trades up as one. He mentions tent erection, tool sharpening and concrete mixing, etc. When the Public Works Department sends men to a job the tents are always erected ready for them. That work is done by carpenters, not by navvies. Sharpening is done by tool sharpeners. "Hard Facts ' does not state whether the girders were for h rid pes or otherwise. ]f for ln-idge*. there is always a gang of bridge builders tent along to do that work, and these jobs arc usually paid for in the way of wages. The last job T was 011 before being.transferred was drain digsmj! in the King Country at Otorohanga. It was all piecework and it was on that job that I got tho 4/3 per yard. Our flat rate was Od per yard. I did not serve any apprenticeship through the medium of a relief camp. T have never been in a relief camp in my life and 1 am not self-recommeiuled. 1 can produce references from every job T have l>cen on if "Hard Facts" would care to see them. "Hard J act* does not want to comparc the Stone Age witll the present time. By doing so be i* not playing the game by the Government that is doing its best to give all classes of men work. PUBLIC WORKS.