INQUIRY DEMAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20220, 12 April 1940, Page 9

INQUIRY DEMAND

CLOSED RELIEF JOB SEQUEL TO DISMISSALS ACTION BY MINISTER SECRETARY’S CRITICISM (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. P. M. Butler, secretary of the General Labourers’ Federation, who inspected the Burwood golf course job which was the subject of action by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R Semple, recently and met the men concerned, said that, in his opinion, the men had been grossly misrepresented and maligned. He was also of the opinion that all the available information had not been given to Mr. Semple during his visit to Burwood. Mr. Butler said he was certain that if the full facts had been placed before Mr. Semple a different line of action would have been taken. The work, he continued, did not directly come under the jurisdiction of the “Labourers’ Federation nor was any award applicable to it. The men were paid in accordance with a public works agreement. However, the Labourers’ Federation and the Canterbury General Labourers’ Union, together with the men concerned, felt that a gross injustice had been perpetrated and had accordingly asked the Federation of Labour to make representations for a full inquiry to be made into the matter. The men deeply resented the imputations of loafing and indecent conduct which were levelled against them. The Federation of Labour had made a request for an inquiry immediately after the occurrence, but were still awaiting a reply. While some of the men had been re-engaged on the job and others absorbed elsewhere, the balance of the men had been arbitrarily stood down for relief and were even denied the provisions of social security. Sustenance payments were withheld from them for a longer period than the Act prescribed.