PAY FOR TUNNELLING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 11

PAY FOR TUNNELLING

REDUCED RATES

PROTEST.BY MEN

A large deputation representing men engaged in tunnelling operations in various parts oil the Dominion waited upon the .Prime Minister (the Bight Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. B. Tavcrncr) to-day to protest against the reduced rates which the Government has decided to pay to contract workers. It was claimed that the reductions amounted to from 30 to 75 per cent. Replying, the Prime Minister agreed to a suggestion by the New Zealand Workers' Union that a conference should be held between representatives of the Public Works Department and men to consider the reduction which had been made. In introducing the deputation, the Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party (Mr, H. E. Holland) said that the reduction made in co-operative contract rates for tunnellers was most extraordinary. These men were highly skilled workers engaged in a most dangerous occupation, and yet their wages had been reduced from 30 to 70 per cent. The old rate could not be called high, and yet the men wero called upon to suffer a roduction which was never meant by the statute which had authorised a 10 per cent, reduction only. The general secretary of the New Zealand Workers' Union (Mr. A. Cook) said that the workers realised the difficulties of the Government, and were willing to meet the Government in the spirit of co-operation. They were willing to enter into legitimate negotiations in order that a settlement might be made. AVhen the Prime Minister made his, announcement that a 10 per cent, cut would be made in the wages of the Civil Sorvice and a similar cut in Arbitration: Court awards, they did not dreani for one moment that a drastic reduction of, from 30 to 75 per cent. would be made in the wages of piece workers. The Minister of Public "Works had announced that no trouble had been experienced on the South Island Main Trunk, but this waß because the men had been advised to carry on pending negotiations. The men on other works had also been asked to continue in the meantime. The only men who were out wero those at Tawa Flat, the King Country railway, the Napier, line, and the underground men at Arapuni.' Between 800 and 1000 men wore affected at the present :time. . POSITION OF MARRIED MEN. The last returns from the 23 cooperative parties on outside work oh the South Island Main Trunk on. the old rate of wages showed that the inon had averaged 14s Sd per day^ and a reduction up to 75 per cent, would make it impossible for the marriod men to keep their families. Some of the most skilled tunnellers in New Zealand wcro engaged on the Tawa Flat1 work.' They had acquired their skill over a number of years, and, although they did not agree that the old rates were a fair rate of remuneration in view'of the difficulties and dangers of the work, they had been prepared to carry on. The old rates had been fixed by engineers, and because the men were making pro^ gross they were being penalised. As a result-of their- expedition the Public Works Department had been able to re-' duce its.overhead charges, but apparently the men. were now to bo reduced as much as 75, per" cent., while the Public servants on salaries were to be reduced only 10 per cent. Such a policy could not bo justified. If the men were, compelled by the conditions to leave the job they would have to be replaced byunskilled men, and..the overhead charges would be doubled. The men asked for a conference with representatives of the Department, or they would welcome the appointment of a tribunal of experienced men to decide the case. This tribunal could include the Minister of Public Works, the Leader of The Opposition, and the Leader of the Labour Party, with an,engineer, This tribunal could hear the case of tho men and report to the Government. If the Government would arrange for- the conference tho men would return to work tomorrow, provided that they were allowed to resume work at day rates, 16s per day, as compared with the 25s or 26s per day they would earn, at piece rates. SPECIAL TREATMENT. Mr. Gavia Stove, one of the gang leaders at Tawa Flat, said he still- refused to believe that had Cabinet been in full possession of tho facts it would havo reached the decision it had. They were entitled to ask why tho tnnnellers ■of tho Dominion had been singled out for special treatment in the matter of wage reductions. They were also entitled to ask if the Government was really concerned about reducing costs or whether it was merely concerned with reducing wages to a certain level. The men believed that by reducing the rates of pay the Government would increase the cost of the job. Mr. Stove referred to the long years -.-of experience which were behind the men engaged on the Tawa Flat job, and referred to the difficult conditions under which they had to work, conditions which played havoc with their health. Never beforo, in any part of the world, had an experienced body of workers, such as the men-engaged in tunnelling at Tawa Flat wero, been asked to accept such low rates of pay. They were just as conce-rnod about the position of the country a3 the Government was, and they had no desire to bo thrown on the unemployed market, but in justice to themselves and to their dependants they could not accept tho rates which the Government proposed to impose. Messrs. E. Knight, T. Smith, and J. Gumming, other gang leaders at Tawa Flat, also spoke. "MONSTROUS PROPOSITION." Mr. B. Semple, M.P., described the action of the Government in reducing tho rates of pay as a monstrous proposition, and said if persisted in it would drive out of the Public Works of the Dominion some of the best men in the civilised world. He had never known any body of private employers' a nywhere in the world put forward such' a proposition. "I am prepared to take a party of politicians who support the Government's action out to ■ Tawa Flat," said Mr. Sample, "and piit them to work on one of the heads just to sco what tho conditions are like. I will give them an undertaking that they won't be hurt, but I guaranteo that at the end of a few hours they will be prepared to admit that the wages the men wero receiving were not too big. I would put them on. at tho reduced rates, and pay them according to results. I would be tickled to death to do it. I do trust that you will reconsider the ridiculous decision that you have arrived at." QUESTION OF FINANCE. In reply, Mr. Forbes said that it was not a pleasant duty to reduce wages, but if, as Minister o.f Finance, he avoided the issue he would not be worthy cf his job. The public works of the Dominion were dependent upon borrowed money, and it was extremely difficult :'to' :ge't money at the present time. ■It was the duty of the Government In keep as ninny men in employment .■!■! |'or;siMo, mid if the deputation whs I lie "iily section asking J'ori

Government assistince tho task would be easy. However, they had to place 30,000 men in employment, and it was evident that a reduction was necessary in order to make the money go round. It -was the intention of the Public Works'engineers to get co-operative tunnelling work back to a basis of 16s a day for an average gang. There was no doubt that co-operative ■work had got beyond this basis, and men were earning as much as £2 11s 8d per day. Under the new basis it was estimated that a good gang could earn up to £1 ss. One of the most difficult jobs was that of a Public Works engineer, who, when he tried to safeguard his department, immediately provoked an agitation that he was incompetent. Mr. P. Frascr,.M.P.: "Somotimcs the charges are right. There are engineers and engineers." A member of the deputation, interjected that it was" impossible to earn ICs a day at piece rates under the now conditions. The Prime Minister replied' that if this was so he would be pleased to go into tho question. Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P.: "What about tho suggested conference?" Mr.'Forbes said he was quite willing that a conference should bo held. If the footage basis of the new rates was too severe it was only right that it should be amended. Mr. Semple asked whether the men could go back at day rates in the meantime. Mr. Forbes said such a procedure would be unsatisfactory. It had. been found by experience that men did not do their best on day rates while a dispute wiis on. Ho himself would not break his neck on a job if it was under dispute. Ho would not object to men earning £5 a day if the country could afford it. CONFERENCE AGREED TO. Mr. Savage: "I suggest that the Government arrange for a conference immediately." Mr. Forbes: "I am quite willing that Mr. Furkert should make all the arrangements." Mr, Sample: "You have no objection to a gang making £1 5s per day?" _ Mr. Forbes: "No. As long as it is based on tho rate of 10s a day for tho average gang." _ . . ■ " After further' discussion it ..was agreed' that a;conforeiice-should;be-holtt. as soon; as possible.