ROAD WORKERS IN SOUTHLAND

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 13

ROAD WORKERS IN SOUTHLAND

BARELY EARNING SUSTENANCE WET WEATHER RESPONSIBLE MINIMUM WAGE SUGGESTED [Piis Uxited Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 12. “ Many men on public works are finding a difficulty in earning wages equal to sustenance rates. This anomalous handicap has been experienced to an acute extent in the Southland district this year, due to the protracted spell of abnormally wet weather. The heavy loss in working time has inflicted an economic hardship on a fairly largo number of men in road construction camps. . Tho problem has been submitted to the Public Works Department by the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., and Mr Denham, M.P. (Invercargill), who made a special visit to Wellington this week to make a plea on behalf of rather more than 50 men employed on road deviation work in the Gore district. A new road is being constructed on peaty ground in a much-exposed position, and, because of the continuously bad weather, more like that ot a wet winter than a summer, the men had suffered much broken time. Indeed, it was slated that the earnings of several men had been only very little better than the sustenance rates paid to unemployed men in a comfortable environment. This was considered to be “ over the odds ” by the men who had taken rough work in the outback places in Southland. Tho legislators, in discussing the problem from the men’s point of view, suggested to the departmental officials that something should be done for the workers who, through no fault of their own, could not obtain a living wage, although willing to work hard, and mentioned the possibility of fixing a minimum wage to meet the extraordinary circumstances. The question will be submitted to the Minister of Public Works.