PUBLIC WORKS PAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS PAY

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING

RESOLUTION OF PROTEST

A meeting called by tho New Zealand Workers' Union at the Queen's Theatre last night, appealing for assistance for the Public Works employees who, it was alleged, have been "locked out," was well attended. Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the New Zealand Seamen's Federation, presided, and the speakers were Messrs. J. Eoberts, secretary of the New Zealand j Alliance of Labour, Gavin Stone, a tunneller, and A. Cook, general 'secretary of tho New Zealand Workers' Union. It was stated that 900 men were out. Mr. Stone said that the tunnellers had had very short notice of alterations in the rate of pay, ranging from 40 per cent, to 70 per cent., and referred to the refusal of the Government to pay 16s a day wages and the refusal of a tribunal. As the result the men had been locked out for eight weeks. He pointed out that while other sections of persous employed, by the Government had the advantage of a. tribunal, and the question of the 10 per cent, cut to Civil servants had been discussed in Parliament, and while persons privately employed had the advantage of the Arbitration Court, the men on public works had no defence. Could they imagine anybody in the service of tho Union Steam Ship Company, for instance, being reduced 50 per. cent, in wages, and being refused some tribunal? Cabinet had decided on reductions up. to 70 per cent., and had stolidly re- j fused to do anything further in the matter. Tho men were prepared to man the jobs to-morrow on the flat rate of IGs a day until a agreement could be reached on rates, but. had always met with a point-blank refusal. At no time was tho average wage earned by the men higher than 12s a day, and under the reductions some of them would have to work for 6s a day. Five public works jobs were held up because tho men refused the wages offered by tho Government, said Mr. A. Cook. The Press had not corrected the impression that the men were on strike. It was incorrect to say that the dispute was on behalf of the tunnellors. The men were locked out at Ohura, Tangarakau, Arapuni, Kotemaori, and Tawa Flat. All the outside men on the Stratford Main Trunk railway were locked out, practically all tiro men employed. The reductions ranged from 25 per cent, to 70 per cent. In one case where the highest day's wage was 17s a day, tho average for twelve months was 12s 4d a day. The reductions would mean that these men would get 6s a day. He again' outlined the tribunal suggested, and the men's proposals. Mr. Eoberts said that the people, of New Zealand were not governed by themselves, but were dictated to by the bondholders overseas. If the latter said work for Id. a day, Mr. Forbes would try to make them do. it. They were today face to face with a general wage reduction, but any dispute was worthy of investigation. If the Government won this light, and these men went back to a 70 per cent, wage reduction, the principle could be extended, and -would affect the general standard of living. He asked for supplies to enable the men concerned to carry on their fight. The speakers were followed with close attention, despite the efforts of Communists in various parts of the hall to disturb the meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting the following resolution was put to the meeting and carried with one dissentient; —"That this meeting, of citizens of Wellington, having heard the Public Works employees' case stated, are .of tho opinion that the men have bejen locked out and are in no way responsible for the stoppage of important development works, which are causing a wanton waste of public money. It is further of the opinion that the men have been singled out for special treatment iii a vicious, -unjust, and unfair manner. It calls upon the Government to accept the offer of the men to work at agreement rates, viz., 16s a day, and so immediately end the lock-out, and also to set up an independent and impartial tribunal to hear the case of the men in regard to piece work rates, which have been .ruthlessly cut from 50 to 70 per cent."