PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 72, 28 March 1929, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS

COMPLAINTS BY MEN

MINISTER'S CHALLENGE

REPLY BY UNION

A further statement in reference to the conditions existing, on tho various public works in the Dominion was made to-day by Mr. Arthur Cook, genoral secretary of tho New Zealand Workers' Union. Mr. Cook replied to points raised yesterday by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. E. A. Bansom).

"I have carefully read the Minister's reply to statements made by mo regarding conditions on public works," said Mr. Cook. "The Minister starts off by saying that after moving around amongst the men, he is satisfied that discontent is not general. In reply to that statement let me say that only in isolated cases has the Minister met the men; further, thoso he met was by 'deputation, and in each case they expressed dissatisfaction with their conditions. This I can prove. The Minister has certainly done a lot of travelling', but the men had no opportunity

of interviewing' him. Tho Minister's I idea of moving amongst the men is to motor along the route at 30 miles per hour. This he did when he inspected tho Rotorua-Taupo line, and the men's representatives were compelled to follow him to Rotorua, in order to have a word with him. "The,? Minister continues by saying that, broadly speaking, tho mei^. are entirely satisfied with their employment. It cuts no ico for Mr. Ransom to mako that statement and it would cut none for me to deny it. But getting cloiyn to tin-tacks, let me say in reply that I am prepared to prove to the satisfaction of any tribunal that 99 per cent, of tho men aro dissatisfied with tho treatment they are roceiving. In reference to proving my statement (No. 1) which appeared in yesterday's Press— 'That it is impossible for the most experienced men to make wages on present piecework rates,' I will prove this by taking the Minister to one job (although it applies to all works, both relief, and standard), Warkworth-Wells-ford, Main Highways. There I will prove that some of the best and most experienced construction workers • in New Zealand cannot make 10s per day. Will the Minister accept this challenge? This will be the most practical way of proving my statements. "LEAVING IN DISGUST." "Tho Minister's statement about the works being rushed, and the protest from the men who aro dismissed, is easily explained, and as a matter of fact does credit to the working class of the Dominion. At present casual labouring work 'is hard to obtain, and rather than remain idle the "icn prefer to do some kind of work. Again I can prove that scores of men are leaving relief work after working a month or tw6, in disgust and despair, without a penny in their pockets. '. "In reference to the 200 men recently put off in the North Auckland district, the Minister wishes to know why these men. arc destitute, as they have just been discharged from works on which the average wage is 14s per day. Here' tho Minister blunders badly. These men have not averaged 14s per day. They have been on piecework at rates so low that it was impossible to make 10s a, day. I can produce pay vouchers to prove this. Further, many of these men aro married with large families who reside in Auckland and elsewhere. (There was no married accommodation on these ■works). These men when dismissed, wore ordered out of their tents by the Public Works officials. They are now destitute and amongst the large body of Auckland unemployed. The Minister goes on to say that thoso men should have saved enough while j employed to avoid destitution. ■ when thrown out of employment until they found farther * employment. Could Mr. Ransom have saved anything un-

dor similar conditions, and kept his wife and family from starvation?

"Amongst the many unstatesmanlike statements made by Mr. Ransom, one in particular is outstanding, 'Should it be found that men sucking employment refuse positions offered by farmers, they will not be engaged on Public Works.' Tliis means that if a. man is offered a job on a farm at a low wage and he refuses it, he is victimised by Mr. Ransom 'a Department, and refused employment on public works. This statement will do Mr. Kansom's party more harm than any other statement he could possibly have made, and will certainly have a boomerang effect.

"Air. Ransom concludes by saying if 1 can prove tho allegations made, to his satisfaction, there will be no necessity for any Commission. Let me say in reply that, given the opportunity, I can, and will, prove every -tatemeut I have made, along with many others not yet mentioned by me. Tho opportunity 1 require is to have responsible persons appointed who shall visit a number of work's, both in the North and South Islands. The duty of these persons shall be to inspect living and working conditions, ascertain rates paid, and inquire into the Department's method of measuring work, and allow me to call evidence to prove my charges. This is the only practical solution. I know full well the Minister's idea of investigation. He wishes me to lay the charges, after which he will submit them to his Department for a report. Of course, the report will come back favourable to the Department, and there the matter will end. This kind of business has

been put across us once foo often, and wo .are not falling for it again. A DEFINITE CHARGE. "I really believe that the Minister is ignorant aa to what is going on on the Public Works, but I know, and honesty of purpose compels mo to write as I am doing. I have never yet made a charge that I am not prepared to substantiate, and never will.. Here is one definite charge I will make which alone should justify the setting up of a Commission. A few weeks back at the ( Waitaki hydro works' a man working on a pontoon slipped into tho river, and was swept away and drowned. There was absolutely no life-saving appliances attached tc the pontoon, not even a lifebuoy, no safety handrail wa3 attached, and not even a boat was available. His mates were compelled to stand by and watch him swept away. A few weeks later a gang of men were working under what they considered to bo a dangerous face, and sent for tho local union secretary and check inspector. These men considered tho place dangerous, and told the men to keep clear until they had the opportunity of seeing the engineer. For this action tho local secretary was instantly dismissed. This was Saturday, and • the Monday morning following the face caved in, and had the men been working under it, soino would undoubtedly have lost their lives. Will the Press or Minister dare to justify this action? I will now await with interest Mr. Ransom's reply to my challenge.-"