BUILDING TRADE WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 39, 15 August 1939, Page 8

BUILDING TRADE WORKERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I am pleased to see how many people value the tenancy of a State house, and to note also how numerous correspondents are on the waiting list for houses and are likely to wait for some time judging by the 6000 odd applications in Wellington alone. Also the Government has made housing one of its chief planks, i.e., "Creating an asset for New Zealand's future." This shows how important the building trade is to both sections. However, I seem to remember Government members of Parliament stressing the point that every man in employment would be granted annual holidays on full pay, and that it would see that this piece of legislation would be put through quickly. I almost forgot the statutory holidays that come along in their turn that are also "penalty holidays" i;o those men in the building trade. Sir, I wonder if the general public kno# that even that great holiday weekend — "Labour Day"—is an unpaid holiday for those workers.

The Government can take extraordinary powers at times to pass Acts to suit its purpose but in four years it has done nothing to change the lot of the building trade employee regarjsi/ ing holidays, payment for statutory-; holidays, and wet time. lam sure some of the tenants in Government houses will appreciate their good fortune in possessing a good house and will admit that from the basement to best room there is nothing left undone or any shoddy workmanship. Surely if the trade is as valuable as we are reminded daily, it is time that our "Labour" Government • remembered that the "labourer is worthy of his hire" and bring the building trade employees from their place in the dark out into the open and in line with every other worker in the Dominion. I am sorry if I have trespassed too much on your generosity, but as an ardent Labour supporter, I am disappointed with the apparent apathy with which the Government treats this large section of "undoubtedly ■ valuable workers" who are creating a national asset, and are left "holding the baby." ■I can tell you, Sir, that when Labour Day comes round I will not be jumping for joy; I will be wondering how to make up the loss of a day's pay. I love to read how the Minister of Public Works says he treats his men and I am sure he does give them a fair spin. I do wish the Minister of Housing would help members of the building trade. —I am, etc., ALGIE.