TRANSFER OPPOSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 9

TRANSFER OPPOSED

SECTION OF WORKERS

FRICTION IN SCHEME 13

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, February 13,

"Nobody could possibly say that," said the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb) when it was reported to him by tele-

phone last night that a section of the deputation of relief workers to him and the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), last Saturday had not been given an opportunity of.being heard. A report to that effect was.made by a section of a special meeting of the Canterbury General Labourers' Union in the Choral Hall on Tuesday night, and was strongly challenged. A heated debate is said to have" followed, the Minister being defended.

Mr. Webb said that the large deputation was given every opportunity to discuss the Government's decision to transfer fit Scheme 13 workers to more important works. He had merely explained the Government's intentions to the deputation, the chairman of which had expressed their appreciation for the hearing given to them.

Though the Choral Hall was engaged for Tuesday's meeting, the number present, according to reports, was only a small percentage of the relief workers in the city. Th,e debate was prolonged, and by the time the voting was taken and the motion declared carried, a considerable number of the men had left. The resolution adopted was:

"That this union is emphatically opposed to the compulsory drafting of its members from Scheme 13 to country work at lower wages and worse conditions than those provided in our present awards. It offers to co-operate with the Government in the promotion of greater fluidity of labour between Scheme 13 and casual employment obtainable (provided no stand-down penalties are imposed), and the absorption of auxiliary labour in secondary industries, particularly the building trades."

Commenting on the union's declaration that the wages offered in the country were below those provided in the-award, Mr. Webb said that the Government had established the principle right through that wherever the men went they would be paid the award rates of wages prevailing for the class of work they would be asked to do.