PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21954, 1 December 1936, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYMENT IN I HARVESTING I LEAVE TO BE I MINISTER ANSWERS M©P|. I QUESTION I [From Our Own Reporter.] I KAIKOURA, November 30 I Instructions had just been issued I to all public works engineers that I seasonal workers employed in camp, I throughout the Dominion were to I be permitted to leave their johj I for a period and engage in shearing. I harvesting, and freezing works oper- 1 ations, said the Minister for PubJjg I Works (the Hon. R. Semple), in ad- I dressing a meeting of workers on 1 the South Island Main Trunk at I Wharanui to-day. Furthermow there would be no broken time jT volved; but they could not remain away from their jobs on puUie works for longer than three months. Mr Semple advised men qualified for these seasonal occupations not to hesitate to take advantage of the department s offer, for he was most anxious to place every facility at the disposal of farmers requiring extra seasonal labour. 6 After answering a list of qmy. tions affecting the men's conditional the Minister said he was pleased to see that the men were working well, and were 100 per cent, loyal to the Government. “I would like to tell you,” added Mr Semple, ‘‘that if you men start fighting this Government you are fighting your friends. We want to do the best we can for you; but we won’t do it at the pistol point we will do it only by sweet reason The man who says to Bob Semple ‘You have got to do a thing* is up against a stiff proposition, believe me.” Investigation of Grievances The Minister said he was anxious to see the men settled down ashappily as possible on their jobs, and any grievances would be thoroughly investigated provided they were handled through the proper channels. From his own knowledge the engineers—particularly the Chief Engineer of the Public Works, Mr J. Wood—were - very reasonable men. Any appeal to him as Minister could be made only as a last resort. If their requests were fair and reasonable, the men could rely on their being complied with. The first question concerned the provision of washhouses for married quarters, or. in the alternative, at least one for every family of four members or more. In reply, the Minister said the idea was to have one washhouse for two families in the meantime. It might be possible shortly to make some provision for larger families but this scheme was going to be tried out. Next, the men wanted to know whether something could be done to improve the condition of tne drinking water at the Blue Slip, it being explained that although the water was not polluted it was heavily impregnated with lime and had oily scum. II was stated by the engineer, Mr C. Langbein. that he had installed tanks at the buildings in this camp to collect drinking water, but that did not overcome the difficulty so far as other purposes were concerned. The Minister said he sympathised with the men in their difficulty, and said that when be returned to Wellington he would have enquiries made as to the possibilities of acquiring a small filtering plant. In reply to a question whether cooperative contract workers would receive average contract wages when taken off their contracts for the department's convenience, the Minister briefly said “Yes.” If. however, men were taken off in their own interest,* that rate of wage would not be paid. Transport of Hospital Cases A matter of general application to Public Works camps was involved in a question about provision of transport for workers’ wives and children taken ill in camp, and requiring removal to hospital. The Minister said this question was really one which involved consideration by medical and hospital organisations. He assured the men that special steps would be taken in the case of serious illness; but he said he had no authority to expend money in the purchase of conveyances. Another matter ‘of general application to Public Works jobs was a ffr quest that the New Zealand Workers Union should be assured that men on works for less than one year be paid Christmas holiday pay at the rate of one day for every 10 weeks of service. There would, replied Mr Semple, bo no difficulty in that, the matter having already been covered in in* structions to Public Works engineers. He realised that the men would have to put up with some hardship this year; but next year they would rej ceive cither seven days’ or 14 days holiday on full pay dependent on their length of service. “Yes, go for your life.” replied the Minister when he was asked whether men not entitled to full holiday pay could go harvesting during the f°ri* night in which work would be slopped at Christmas. _ The Minister expressed gratification at the progress being made on job, and in reply to a question abou dangerous employment he re * c ?T» to the Mohaka viaduct on the East Coast line, where, because of re* markable progress made, he ha granted extra pay. That, he would be part of his policy. 'or r ‘ thought exceptional service. P a *, llc r* larly on dangerous jobs, should suitably rewarded. The Mohaka y 3 " duct was 350 feet Inch and 1006 ico long; it was the lor,cost in southern hemisphere. U '■'■ as being erected in record time.