RELIEF CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 8

RELIEF CONDITIONS

Obligation On Employing Authority

A statement published in Christchurch concerning criticism of relief conditions by the Heathcote County Council’s inspector was referred to last evening by the Minister of Labour, Mr. IVebb.

The Minister stated that if the statement was correct, then the Heathcote County Council had let the Employment Division down badiy. "The obligation of supervising the nature and the quantity of the work done rests with the employing authority,” said Mr. Webb, "and all employing authorities have been instructed by the department to employ subsidized men on work that would not normally be done by a local body out of its own revenue. If any local bodies or any other employing authorities are so lax in their supervision as to allow men Io make their own rules, to start and knock off when they like, they are not entitled to have subsidized men working for them.” Tlie Minister said lie had instructed his oliicers in Christchurch Io make an immediate investigation of the statement, and if conditions prevailed as stated by Mr. Searff to make arrangements forthwith to have the subsidy withdrawn. This would apply to any other local body which failed to provide adequate supervision. When workers enjoyed award conditions it was imcumbent up-on them to work in accordance with those conditions.