PUBLIC WORKS CONDITIONS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 15

PUBLIC WORKS CONDITIONS

TO THE EDITOR OT TRK PRESS. Sir, —“Jack Hammer” certainly speaks to the point. Mi Semple seems to have conveniently forgotten those who helped to put him where he is. With regard to men on public works earning £2 a day, this is quite likely in isolated places, but then only by a few. If Mr Semple would take the trouble to inquire into conditions, he might be surprised by the amount earned by a fortunate few. In South Canterbury overtime appears to be permitted to a lew men. making their week considerably in excess of the 40 hours advocated by Mr Semple’s Government. Often Sunday is included; and Saturday and Sunday work at double rates is certainly economical. It is hard to understand the Government’s attitude here. Forty hours a week should allow work for everyone. Surely men could be found who are registered unemployed, so as to stop the abuse of overtime rates.

Mr Semple, when in South Canterbury, might inspect the wage sheets and see if he can find how they work out over the period of, say, six months preceding this date. —Yours, etc., • TAP HAMMER. Timaru, February 23, 1939.