NOT DEBARRED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 14

NOT DEBARRED

WHARF WORKERS

AND UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

REPLY TO COMPLAINTS

A reply has boon forwarded by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. S. G. Smith) to complaints made some time ago br a deputation representing the New "Wlaatt Waterside Workers' Federation in regard to the admiuistration of the Unemployment Act. The Minister refutes tho suggestion niado that waterside workers were being dobarred from obtaining employment under the board's various schemes. The Minister's letter is as-follows:— "With reference to tho representations made by the deputation which waited upon mo some timo ago regarding the position of Waterside Workers under the Unemployment Act, it was stated by ono of tho speakers that 'when a waterside worker registered at tho bureau, he was told that there was no work for him, and that he had better go back to the wharf.' Another speaker said that 'the men took these forms (U.B. 28) along to the bureau, but were informed that there was no work for them as they were waterside workers.' . "From information which I nave obtained, as the result of inquiries made, it -would appear that these statements are not strictly in accordance with fact. On the contrary, investigations disclose that a number of watcrsiders presented at the Wellington bureau forms U.B. 28, signed by tho manager of the Wellington Co-operative Waterside Labour Employers' Association, and were .offered tho number of days' work un,dor No. 5 schemo to which they were entitled, according to their conjugal condition, number of dependants, etc. They replied that they could not arrange to report for relief work at 8 a.m. oi> any particular day, as their attendance at the wharf was necessary to ascertin whether work was available there. They also intimated that they could only accept relief employment when no work was available on the wharf.; Every endeavour was made by the officials of tho Wellington Labour Bureau to arrange with tho City Council for a special job to meet the circumstances of tho watersidors, but, unfortunately, the council was unable to provide a job where men could report at any time. A SPECIAL BELIEF JOB. "In the case of Auckland, however, after considerable trouble, a special relief job was reserved for waterside workers only, and in close proximity to the waterfront. The matter was discussed with the secretary and walking delegate of the Wa'torsido Workers' Union, and they expressed the opinion that the proposed work would meet admirably the needs of tho waterside workers, particularly as the men who ■would bo engaged upon it would be readily available for work on tho waterfront in caso of emergency. Tho authority of the Unemployment Board was obtained for the carrying out of this particular work, and the secretary of the Stevedores' Association gave an assurance of co-operation and assistance in furnishing the information required on forms U.B. 28 (supplies of which were handed to the president, secretary, and walking delegate of the union)", to enable the men to receive relief. "The officials of the union were urged to expedite the matter to enable, the work to commence in March, so that those waterside workers who were eligible would have an'opportunity of making up their February earnings to the amount allowed under the rules. It is understood that shortly after this the whole matter was discussed at a meeting of the union, as there was some doubt, whether the men would be prepared to accept the work in view of the proposal to reduce the rates of pay of relief workers. At a subsequent meeting, held a few days later, I am given to- understand that the scheme, was turned down. It has been suggested that pressure was brought to bear on the union by the Alliance of Labour with the idea . o£.strengthening the hands of the alliance in its protest against the en- . forcement of payment of' the levy and the reduction in rates of pay. "With respect to tho statements made by two of the speakers that tho employers had refused to 'fill in forms U.B. 28, I have been unable to obtain any evidence in support thereof. On the contrary, there is proof that numbers of the forms have been filled in by the staff of the Wellington Co-opera-tive Waterside Workers' Association, and reports show that on no occasion have they refused to complete a form. ' THE BLACK LIST. "With reference to tho statement that 'there were many cases where men had paid their levy, but* had been, refused work because their names had not been checked, off the black list,' I find that so far as tho Wellington Employment Office is concerned, in order to safeguard the companies who employ labour from tho liability of being proceeded against under ' the Act, a notice is posted up on the Wellington wharf some time prior to the date on which the various instalments become due. The notice for the March levy was posted up about the first of that month, thus giving ample time to the men concerned and affording them an opportunity of producing their coupon books with the receipt entered therein as proof that the instalment had been paid. A* number of men were known to have made the boast that they would not produce their books, and in other cases they came along—called out across the table, 'I have paid my levy' —and went out again. No notice was taken of these intimations, as it was considered^ that the association's clerks should themselves inspect the books and ascertain definitely that tho levios'Were actually paid. A card system was kept for all men employed, and each card was marked indicating whether or not the worker had registered and had paid the instalments due. It may interest you to know that in some cases tho men have paid four instalments. An examination of the cards was made after the period for payment of the March instalment had expired, when it was found that over 400 men had apparently not paid the levy. On 13th April a list containing over 400 names was posted up, but before noon on that day over« 100 called and produced their Receipts. Some of them may have previously paid the amount, or payment may have been made only that morning. '.'The statement that the staff of the Wellington Co-operative Employers' Association;is overworked and unable to effectively cope with the matter is •strenuously denied by the manager, who states that immediately a man produced /his book with re.eeipt of payment his card is marked, and he has no difficulty whatever in then taking his place for employment. "So far as payment of future levies is concerned, I understand that it has now been arranged for an'office stamp, which 'can be shown io tho labour foreman when engaging labour, to bo placed on the coupon book to indicate that the worker has satisfied the employment office that lie has paid his levy. ASSISTANCE FOR MEN. "It was further stated, by a member of the deputation that 'then; were hundreds of waterside workers who had not the money to pay the 7s Gd, nnd who were thus debarred from getting

employment.' In order to assist such men, tho manager of the Labour Employment Association will arrange, in suitable cases, for tho men to be selected for work even though their lovies have not been paid, provided they deposit their coupon books and sign orders authorising the deduction of the amount of the levy from the first wages due to them. The employment office will then pay the levies immediately and arrange tho necessary deductions to be made from wages due. In Wellington alone the levies of a large number of men have been paid in this way. "Notwithstanding the allegations made by the deputation, there are instances at Whangarci, Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Greymouth, Oamaru, and Dunedin of waterside workers,having been offered and accepted employment under schemes initiated by the Unemployment Board. The Department's records, however, also disclose many cases in which waterside workers have refused such employment at several ports. "In view of the publicity given to this matter in the 'New Zealand Transport Worker,' a copy of this letter is being handed to the Press."