TAWA FLAT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 12

TAWA FLAT

TUNNELLERS' PAY

NEW RATES REFUSED

WORKS STILL IDLE

The proposals made by the Government in regard to Tawa Flat tunnellers' wages have been rojocted by the men, and the position is that the works are still idle. A deputation to tho Prime Minister is being arranged on behalf of the workers.

The following statement was made by Mr. A. Cook, secretary of the Now Zealand Workers' Union, to-day:—

"In a Ministerial statement appearing in "The Post" of 2nd May, 1931, in reference to the dispute existing between co-operative contractors and the Public Works Department, it is alleged that at a conference between representatives of the men and officers of the Department concessions were mado which would permit the average co operative party working industrially to earn 20s per. day. Such statement does not reveal the .true position. "The original contract price which was rescinded by the Department was £13 15s per lin. foot for the enlargement. The new contract, which tho men refused to sign, was £7 4s per lin. foot. The average cost to the cooperative party for steel, explosives,1 etc., amounts to approximately iSI 15s per foot, leaving in the case of the old contract £12 per foot for labour, and in the now contract &5 Ss. OFFER OF 10s. "At tho conference referred to, the Department's officers made an offer to increase the rate in the proposed new contract 10s per foot, which would bring the labour cost up to £5 19s per. foot, and still a reduction on actual earnings of over 50 per cent. The Department's officers, in conference, frankly stated that they were bound by a Cabinet decision to readjust prices to a 16s per day basis, and any negotiations with them for a settlement would liavo to be within the limits of that decision. "The statement that men can 18s Od to 21s per day was denied, by the men's representatives. On the Department's own figures the new offer of 10s per foot only provides a basis of average- earnings of 16s 93. per day, and it is obvious that if one party earns 20s per day another party must necessarily earn only 13s 6d per day. '. • CANNOT EARN AMOUNT. '' That tho men can earn lGs 9d per day at the prices now being offered thorn, is denied by the men, and as a proof of their belief of this they are prepared to work on wages for 16s per day as provided for in their agreement. "When it was A discovered, at the conference that tho officers of the Department had their hands securely bound, and that it was impossible to make any headway toward a settlement, the secretary of tho union suggested that they approach Cabinet, and endeavour to get the basis of computation for contract rates lifted from 16s to £1 a day.

"The offer'icferred'to in tlie interview is Cabinet's approval of the offer made by tho Department's officers, and rejected by the men's representatives in conference.

"A letter to the union from the Minister repeating the offer was placed before a full meeting of tho Tawn Plat men and unanimously rejected, and at the same time they reaffirmed their previous offer toman tho job at 16s per shift." V