CORRESPONDENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1940, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE

CATHOLIC .MISSION. [to the editor.] Sii-, —It is seldom one has the opportunity to pen an appreciation of an appreciation. The letter published in your edition of Monday last over the nom-de-plume “Non-Catholic” was both kind and wise. The sentiments expressed were thoroughly. Christian. May we all realise as exactly, that recourse to God in prayer is as fundamental a necessity for those who would lead a Christian life, as it is a certain remedy for the misfortunes of our modern world. I would like to take this unlookedfor opportunity to thank both the morning and evening Press of Greymouth for their generosity during the Mission. Their kindness is rewarded by the certain ■ knowledge that their reports have been most widely appreciated.—Yours, etc., R. J. SELLECK. ■ Te Kinga.

NGAHERE DREDGE; [TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —The. letter that appeared in the “Star” last evening, signed by “Onlooker,” asked an honest question and can best be answered by raising the following points:— (1) Although the miners worked on the King’s Birthday they did so by mutual arrangement with the companies, and are to take an additional day off at Christmas, thus there will be no increase in production. (2) The dredge workers’ award differs from the miners’ in that the dredge workers are employed for 48 hours a week plus overtime. (3) Workers on the Ngahere dredge have worked many long hours of overtime, particularly in the event of breakdowns, when arises the necessity of the dredge recommencing operations in the shortest possible time. During five consecutive months the average hours of Sunday work were 14 hours per shift, including one shift of 25 hours of continuous work. Is it any wonder then that the men wish to enjoy the benefits of an occasional statutory holiday. (4) The managing director, Mr Davis, readily stated during negotiations for a settlement last Friday, that he had no fault to find with the men, and that they performed their duties ably and well. He praised their readiness to work at any hour when repairs had to be effected on the dredge. (5) It is true that the men would have received time and a-half if they had worked the day in question, and it is equally true that they were paid nothing by not working. It is obvious therefore that they felt the need of a day off when they refused extra money. . , (6) We have information that the employees of a firm in Greymouth wished to work on the King’s Birthday and have an extra day off at Christmas and were told that they could not do so, they were forced to observe the holiday. On the other hand, the situation was reversed at Ngahere. Can the employers be right in both cases? —Yours, etc., THE SUPPORT COMMITTEE.

[to the editor.] Sir, —Dredging news has been occupying quite a little space in the Press lately, and it comes as a rude surprise to discover that there ai e still some like your correspondent “Onlooker,” who have not yet a clear grasp of the Ngahere situation. With your indulgence, I will endeavour to straighten out the matter from “Onlooker’s” point of view. There are two distinct and definite reasons why the employees of the Ngahere dredge did not work on the King’s Birthday. Firstly, because there is nothing at all in the award which states that a dredge-worker shall work on a statutory holiday. In fact, it has always been assumed both by the Placer Mines Federation and the Union, in all previous dealings that statutory days are idle days, and it has been a practice in the dredging industry to observe them as such, unless a holiday agreement which specifically covers these days, is entered into between the employers and employees. The mere fact that a penal rate is provided in the award does not mean that it was the intention of the Court that the men in this industry should work every day in the year except one, but it does provide for “safety men” such as watch men, who are at all times provided by the union on request. Secondly, there is no holiday agreement between the Ngahere Company and the men. It is customary on larger dredges for the parties to enter into an, agreement whereby, for certain considerations in respect to annual holidays, the men undertake to keep the dredge in'operation on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, and the King’s Birthday. Most companies have availed themselves of this ideal opportunity to secure continuous dredging, but not so Ngaherei Immediately prior to Easter of this year, the employees at Ngahere approached the management for an agreement similar to that in operation at Rimu, and customarily asked for by the union, and it was agreed to by both parties, but as the holidays were imminent and the draft of the agreement not readily procurable, it was mutually decided to consider the matter settled, so the men worked on Good Friday and Easter Monday. However, when a draft of the agreement was obtained after Easter, it was a “horse of a different colour,” for after the men had carried out their side of the “gentlemen’s agreement” and worked, the company refused to fulfil their side of the contract and no agreement was signed. Such shabby treatment definitely contradicts the statement by Mr. C. C. Davis, that his dredge was “singled out,” for it is most apparent that if such was the case, the singling was done by the company itself, and not, as suggested by Mr. Davis, by the union. It was then that the management was informed that in future no statutory holidays would be worked at Ngahere, and it is only • reasonable to assume that considering no action was taken when the men did not work on Labour Day, that had the date of the King’s Birthday not been altered by the Government to November 25 from June 3, which day would definitely have been observed as an idle day, no lock-out would have been created. There is a wealth of similar satisfying evidence to be put forward by the Ngahere men when an investigation is finally made into this dispute, and “Onlooker” may rest assured of some interesting reading when the

power§ that be set the wheels in motion. Yours etc., NGAHERE DREDGE WORKER Blackball, December 3. [to the editor.] Sir. —Permit me space in an endeavour to explain to “Onlooker,” condemning the actions of the Ngahere dredge employees. Does “Onlooker” not realise that the King’s Birthday is a holiday? The mere fact of the award rate of pay—i.e., time and ahalf, is sufficient to convince even the dullest. The Grey River Dredge did not work statutory holidays until the day in dispute (November 25). Ngahere dredge did not work on Labour Day. Why did the management not kick then? The stubbornness and their admitting the mistake in my opinion was the suggestion of tossing a coin and taking a “sporting chance,” an open insult to the . men’s and Union’s principles. At a time like this, thorough investigation should be demanded immediately from the Minister of Mines who has done some bright shuffling.—l am, yours, etc., DREDGE-HAND. Ikamatua, Dec. 3.