PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS

AU REEMENT CB-ITICISK I)

MINISTER'S REPLY

CHALLENGE TO UNION

Reply was made yesterday by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to a series of resolutions carried by the Motueka branch of the New Zealand Workers' Union in condemnation generally of the new public works' agreement. ;

One of the resolutions expressed a complete lack of confidence in the general secretary of the union (Mr. A. Cook) regarding his action in signing "such a document as Mr. Semple's socalled agreement, in view of the fact that the agreement is of no advantage to the workers who were responsible for Mr. Semple's elevation to Ministerial rank."

"I do not intend to let such a resolution go unchallenged," said the Minister, "in view of. the fact that the agreement, without doubt, is the best public works agreement in the British Empire, if not in the world. The minimum wage has been lifted from 9s to 16s for single men and from 12s to 16s for married men, with a 10 per cent. reduction in hours. This is the highest minimum wage ever paid on public works in New Zealand or Australia. It is the first time that any Minister in any British Parliament has introduced on public works a 40-hour week, which has been responsible for setitng thp level for all other employees the country. "The agreement provides for Maori workers being paid a wage equal to the pakeha's wage. It also provides tot those employed on public works for two years to receive at Christmas time 14 days' holiday on full pay and sevea days on full pay for those who have been employed for twelve months. This is a new departure; such concessions have never been given before. In addition, there are many other concessions such as libraries in public works camps, better accommodation, better attention, and a more liberal treatment in case of accident, while a sincere-endeavour is_ to be made to improve social life in the camps. •

WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT. "The agreement has met with enthusiastic and wholehearted support all over the Dominion," continued Mr. Semple. "I have also received from one end of Australia to the other letters congratulating me and the Government on the' treatment we have meted out to men on public works. Needless to say, I was astonished to read such an uncharitable, unreasonable, and callous resolution; I cannot, bring myself to believe'that the rank and. file of the men working on the job know anything about this, although they are certainly responsibleffor allowing it to go out in their name. "However, the final clause in the agreement gives me the right to cancel all or part of it as it applies to any locality or to" the whole of the Dominion, and although the terms of the agreement have not been violated by the Motueka branch, the branch certainly declares that it is of no value whatever to "the-workmen. In view of this fact, I am going to call on the men responsible for the writing of this resolution to show why the agreement should not be cancelled so" far as they are concerned. I'doiiot wish to force -an agreement on anybody, particularly when it is repugnant to them or detrimental to their interests. I have endeavoured to improve the conditions on public works, and it is my intention \p continue to do so. Every reasonable thinking person will realise that one cannot do everything in a few months,

particularly when it comes to reorganising a national institution such as the Public Works Department. AN ULTIMATUM.

■ ,^'lftheMotuekamen, therefore,want to goback on, to the old scale they cata do so. There are other resolutions that .are offensive, and untruthful, and I.cannot imagine the state of mind of the individual responsible for drafting them. I will give the,branch fourteen days to show reasons. why its members should remain parties to an agreement which they ha-vecondemned and attempted.to.ridicule, or- whether they will go back on-to the old rates operating before the agreement came into existence..>l am. prepared to do all that one than can do to'help.the iboha. fldei workers in my. Department ! to»'earh' The maximum that they are physically able to do, but 1 am not going to" tolerate unjustifiable abuse by irresponsible individuals who seem determined to embarrass and obstruct the Government in its effort to play the game by the honest men, women, and children of this country."