RURAL WORKERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16848, 31 May 1920, Page 7

RURAL WORKERS.

THEIR ACCOMMODATION.

COMPLAINTS TO MINISTER,

Various complaints regarding tho accommodation of country workers wero made by a deputation from the Now Zealand Workers' Union to the Minister of Labour (Sir William Henries) at Wellington on Saturday. The speakers also referred to a number of other questions of Labour Department administration. Mr M cine racy, representing the Public Works employees in the Union, hoped that the "Department would giv.i its assistance in maintaining the improved state of affairs brouuht about by agreement with the Minister oi' Public Works. Mr S. Bnrehara referred to the wages of Public V> orl:s employees, which matter hr.s been reserved for Cabinet consideration. He contended that prices in the back country were at least. -•"> per cent, higher than in the cities. The Prime Minister said in the House that wages for Government employees would lie based on awards of the Arbitration Court: but this was not being dene. A carpenter, for example, received 1-ts on public works which he specified, and yet 17s Cd was the award wage with bonuses in private employment. Private employers also paid travelling allowances. Mr Langston urged that the Government Labour Bureau system should bo improved and extended to avoid the pre- . sent duplication with private empiovment agencies. The Workers' Union wished to assist in greater production, and for this purpose desired to see an end made of the waste of time and energy involved in men running hither and thither in scorch of cmplovnicnt. The Department should at least'advertise in the papers that it was willing to supply labour. Tho Union would work in conjunction with tho Department so as to help to transfer surplus labour with as little inconvenience as possible to the place where it could bo used. HOUSING RURAL WORKERS". Mr Townsend said they thanked the Minister to a certain extent for tho Shearers Accommodation Act, passed lastj session, but they could not thank mm for ignoring tlie groat bulk of country workers. They asked that a Bui should be introduced on the lines of the Queensland measure, providing for all classes of country workers. Ho j asked especially that tho Shearers' Accommodation Act should not- be allowed to become a dead letter. Wairoa farmere had stated that tho Maoris did not want improved accommodation, but. they did, and they threatened to take j direct action, and not sliear for the | iarmers who did not provide what was laid down. Tho Minister: I think a great deal has been done. Mr Townsend said at somo places .in tho Wairarapa up-to-date aceommoj dation of the best class had been given, but side by side were sheds which had not changed from old times. , Mr Baldwin complained that case* had been placed before the Department, and the union had been told there was no cnuso for action. Yet the cases wero taken to the Court, and the Department was proved wrong. Mr Key said smaller flaxmills outside the Manawatu district had not complied with the regulations brought down in IDI2. Ho argued that in tlie interests of increased production it was necessary that better accommodation should be provided in the country to attract workers. ' ORGANISERS ,AS INSPECTORS. Mr Templeton. said _ that amendment to tho Act was required to meet tho Circumstances where Maoris of both, sexes were employed. Ho suggested ' that organisers in tlio industry should , be appointed primary inspectors so no . to allow them to inspect accommodation and report to the Department where it was bad. , r Mr C. Grayndlor, secretary of the union, said the settlement of the Hutv j ynu tunnel dispute was important, a* V *?<> men had resumed work on condiL tion that an early, settlement was . effected. . lhe Minister: I understand there I ila ? keen a complete settlement, j MrGrayodler: "Except as to wages . and hours." Witli regard to breaches ' ?t award, the union had taken action . in a number of cases where it was [ proved that a breach had occurred. In , other cases, there had been" great i in the Department giving attention to i complaints. The union, m fact, had ■ been considering whether it. should phico any more cases in the hands of i the Department MmiSTER'S REPLY. The Minister said it was a help to the Department to hear tho complaints : of the union, so that tho Department might know what was really going on. A great etep in advance Had been mado m passing the Shearers' Accommodation Act. At any rate, the squatters camo : to him and said they would be ruined by it. They said they could not get timber, and certainly there was difficulty in that respect. However, instructions had been sent out as to what was required, and it was intended to put the Act into operation as far as possible. They would admit that the accommodation had been improved, whether by tho union or the Labour Department. Public "Works matters were under the control of Mr Coates, and the Labour, Department would fall in with any decision he came to. Mr Coates had tho confidehco of the Government, and any reasonblo proposition ho put before Cabinet would no doubt be endorsed. Tho Railway conferences were now in progress, and if a general bonus on wages were granted it would probably apply also to other public employees. _ As Native Minister, ho had no complaints regarding the accomodation for Maori shearers. If the Maoris, through their members, expressed a desire for legislation in this respect, ho was quite willing to earrv it into effect. Of course. Maori customs were different from European. A member of tho deputation .said that in cases there was more than one family occupying tho one hut. Partitions wqro" required. Another member paid tho Hon. Mr •Ngata would only represent the wealthier land-owning Maoris, and he was opposed to the union. The Minister said ho must consider tho views of Native members as representing the rar-e. With resard to the other complaints, the Secretary for La- : hour had heard their statements and j would make investigations. It there: j was laxity in indention, action would !be taken. The Labour Bureaus quesj tion was one of administration. If tho j «'sf.em were extended, there would no doubt bo complaints that tho Govem- ; ment were monopolising tho labour supply. . Members: Why shouldn't the Government dn it? The Minister said every consideration would be given to tho request.